Two wins by Black

RMD-ALD, 12/23/2005 [B53]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Qc4 {6.Bxc6 (B53 / 5-7) is the only move played with any regularity here.} a6 {6...Rc8, Uhlarova-Havlickova, Zilina 1997; 6...Nf6, Fisher-Croft, USA 1992} 7.Bxc6 {7.Ng5, Marabaoglu-Steinmann, Altenholz 1994} Bxc6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.O-O g6 10.Ng5 e6 11.f4 Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Ng4 13.Qe2 h5 14.f5 gxf5 15.Nxe6? {I don't see the point.} fxe6 16.exf5 e5 -+ 17.a3 O-O-O 18.f6 Bh6 19.b4 Bxc1 20.Raxc1 Ne3 21.Rf2 Rdg8 22.Rg1 Nxg2 23.Rfxg2 Bxg2+ {23...Rxg2!} 24.Rxg2 Qc6 25.Ne4 Rxg2 26.Kxg2 d5 27.Ng5 Qxf6 28.h4 Qf4 29.Qe1Rg8 30.Qg3 Qxg3+ 31.Kxg3 e4 32.Kf4 Kd7 33.Ke5 Rxg5+! {It's all over.} 34.hxg5 e3 35.g6 e2 36.g7 e1Q+ 37.Kf6 Qc3+ 38.Kg6 Qxg7+ 39.Kxg7 h4 0-1

ALD-RMD, 12/23/2005 [D06]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 h5 {Pointless; 5...e5 is relatively best.} 6.Bc4 Bd7 7.Nf3 e6 8.Bf4 {Creating a very classical looking center, but probably not best; 8.e5 seems better.} Bb4! 9.O-O {9.Bg5 keeps more of White's advantage.} Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qd3 Bc6 12.Ne5= {12.Rfe1! Nd6 13.Rxe6+ fxe6 14.Qg6+ Nf7 15.Qxe6+ Qe7 16.Qc8+ Qd8 17.Bxf7+Kxf7 18.Ne5+ Ke8 19.Qxd8+ Kxd8 20.Nf7+ Ke7 21.Nxh8 +/-} Nd6 13.Nxc6 Nxc6 14.Rab1 Qf6 15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Rxb7 O-O 17.Bb3 d5 18.Bc2 g6 19.Rfb1 Na5 20.R7b5 Nc4 21.Bb3? Na3! -/+ 22.Bc2 Nxb5 23.Rxb5 a6 24.Rb6 a5 25.Qb5 Qe7 26.Qb1 a4 27.Bxg6!? Qg5 {27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Qg7 29.Qxe6+ Qf7 held no dangers for Black, but my wife refused my attempt to complicate matters.} 28.Bc2 h4 29.h3 Kg7 30.Qe1 a3 31.c4 {Risky.} Rfb8 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.cxd5 Qxd5 34.Qe5+? {Trading queens leaves White with absolutely no hope.} Qxe5 35.dxe5 Kh6 36.f4 Rb2 37.Bb3 Kg6 0-1 {38.Bc4 Kf5 39.Kf1 Kxf4 40.Kg1 Kxe5}

Two games

I haven't posted any of the games between my and my wife in a while. Here's a couple of recent ones.

RMD-ALD, 10/23/2005 [C50]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.a3 Bg4 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Qd7 10.Qe1 {10.Qd2, Mazziotti Irigoyen Gabriel 2139 - Martinez Daniel 2193, Buenos Aires 2001} Ne7 11.Nd5 Nexd5 12.exd5 e4 13.Nd4 exd3 14.Bxd3? Rae8? {14...Nxd5} 15.Bb5! Qe7 16.Bxe8 Rxe8 17.c4 Qxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Rxe3 19.Nb5 Rb3 {I don't know why I left the c7 pawn undisturbed for so many moves. - ALD} 20.Rf2 Ne4 21.Rf4 Nf6 22.Rb1 a6 23.Nc3 {23.Nxc7 +/-} Bh5 24.Rf2 Ng4 25.Rd2 Ne5 26.Rd4 {26.Re1!} Bg6 27.Ne4?{27.Rc1} Re3! -/+ {Black handles the remainder of the game very well. - ALD} 28.Nf6+ gxf6 29.Rf1 Kg7 30.Rf2 Re1+ 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Bd3+ 33.Kf2 Bxc4 34.g3 Bd3 35.b3 Bf5 36.Kg2 Kf8 37.h3 Ke7 38.g4 Bc8 39.Kg3 c6 40.Kf4 Ng6+ 41.Kg3 cxd5 42.Rxd5 Be6 43.Rd3 Ne5 44.Rc3 Kd7 45.b4 b5 0-1 {My wife doesn't usually resign until the win is obvious, but in this case she decided she did not want to play on in this hopeless position. - ALD}

RMD-ALD, 12/11/2005 [C50]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 O-O 6.Qf3 d6 7.Nc3 Nd4 {7...Re8, Egold-Dietzel, Verden 2002; 7...Bg4, Mueller-Friess, Hassloch 1997; 7...Bb4, Strasser-Brehm, Bad Duerkheim 1993} 8.Qd1 {8.Qg3, Thomas-Thomas, Sebnitz 1998} Bg4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Bh5 11.Be3 Bb4 12.Qd2 Bxf3 13.Rg1 Ng4 14.h3 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qh4+ 16.Qf2 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qxh3 18.Kd2 Bg4 19.d4 exd4 20.cxd4 Rae8 21.Kd3 c6 22.Rg3 Qh4 23.Qf4 Be2+? 24.Kxe2 Qxf4 25.exf4 Rxe4+ 26.Kd3 Rxf4 27.d5 c5 28.Re3 a6 29.Re7? b5! 30.Bb3 {forced} c4+ 31.Kc3 cxb3 32.axb3 Ra8 33.Rd7 Rf6 34.Rc7 g6 35.Kb4 Rf5 36.c4 bxc4 37.bxc4 Rf2 38.Rc6 a5+ 39.Kb5 Rb2+ 40.Ka4 Rb4+ 41.Ka3 Kf8 42.Re1 Re8 43.Rc1 Re3+ 44.Ka2 a4 {44...Ke7} 45.Rxd6 a3 46.Rc2 Reb3 47.Rd8+ Ke7 48.Rc8 Rb6?= {This turns a game with very good winning chances into a dead draw; 48...Rd3! -/+. - ALD} 49.c5 R6b5 50.Rc7+ Kd8 51.d6 Rb2+ 52.Rxb2 axb2 53.Kb1 h5 54.c6 Rb8? {And this turns a dead draw into a lost endgame; 54...Rb6=. - ALD} 55.Rxf7 Ke8 56.Rb7 Rd8 57.Re7+ Kf8 58.Rd7 {58.Re6!} Rc8 {58...Ke8} 59.Rc7 Ra8 60.Rb7 61.d7+ Kd8 62.Kxb2 h4 63.Kc3? {63.c7+! +-} g5 64.Kd4 h3 65.Ke5 h2? {65...Ke7 with (slim) drawing chances. - ALD} 66.Kd6! 1-0 {66...Rc8 67.Rb8 h1Q 68.dxc8Q#}

Ludek Pachman

GM Ludek Pachman, who passed away in March 2003, is in my opinion THE best chess writer ever ... hands down, bar none! Unfortunately, many of his books either were never published in English or are long out of print. Among my favorite Pachman books are ...

Modern Chess Strategy
A one-volume condensed version of the earlier (and long out-of-print) three-volume Complete Chess Strategy.

Tactica Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Tactics)
A two-volume follow-up to Modern Chess Strategy covering tactics. Lots and lots of examples, followed by lots of exercises and several illustrative full games, on each topic.

Teoria Moderna en Ajedrez (Modern Chess Theory)
A 4-volume opening treatise (Open Games, Semi-Open Games, Queen's Pawn Games, Closed Games). It doesn't cover quite the same amount of ground as ECO in terms of raw number of lines, but it still manages to cover an impressively immense amount of material while also including lots of textual discussion of the theory and strategy behind each opening and its major lines.

Decisive Games in Chess History
Pachman analysis 65 pivotal games from 1870 to 1972, looking not just at the actual chess moves on the board but also the competitive and psychological aspects of the situation.

FIDE World Cup Round 7 (Final)

All the games of the World Cup are available in PGN format.

The first ten places, who move on to the next phase of the FIDE World Championship. All five 2700-rated players among the sweet 16 ended up at the top of the list:
1. Aronian, Levon (ARM, 2724) - in tiebreak
2. Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR, 2704)
3. Bacrot, Etienne (FRA, 2725) - in tiebreak
4. Grischuk, Alexander (RUS, 2720)
5. Bareev, Evgeny (RUS, 2717) - in tiebreak
6. Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
7. Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
8. Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL)
9. Kamsky, Gata (USA) - in tiebreak
10. Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - the lowest rated (2570) and of course youngest of the sweet 16

The remaining players are:
11. Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - 1.5 to 0.5
12. Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
13. Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - in tiebreak
14. Van Wely, Loek (NED)
15. Lautier, Joel (FRA) - final score was tied, but Lautier had Black in the drawn seventh Sudden Death game
16. Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS)

If Kasparov and Kramnik decline to play in the 2006 Candidate Matches as is widely expected, then Shirov (based on his rating) and Malakhov (based on his #11 place finish) would take their places, as explained extremely well by ChessBase.

Ivanchuk (UKR, 2748) lost out because (a) he was not rated one point higher on either the July 2004 or January 2005 rating lists as that would have been enough to move him ahead of Bacrot on the rating list and (b) he lost in the second round to Cheparinov of the World Cup tournament.

The two other 2700-players were Shirov (ESP, 2710) and Radjabov (AZE, 2704) who both lost in round 3, to M. Gurevich and L. van Wely, respectively.

FIDE World Cup Round 6

For 1-4 places
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) in tiebreak
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Bacrot, Etienne (FRA), 1.5-0.5

For 5-8 places
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) in tiebreak
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 2-0

For 9-12 places
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) in tiebreak
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) in tiebreak

For 13-16 places
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Lautier, Joel (FRA) in tiebreak
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5

FIDE World Cup Round 5

To determine Places 1-8
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Bareev, Evgeny (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL), 1.5-0.5
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Gelfand, Boris (ISR) in tiebreak

To determine Places 9-16
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Lautier, Joel (FRA), 1.5-0.5
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Dreev, Alexey (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Van Wely, Loek (NED) in tiebreak

FIDE World Cup Round 4

Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Kamsky, Gata (USA), 1.5-0.5
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Van Wely, Loek (NED), 2-0

The following matches ended in 1-1 ties, with the blitz tiebreak winner indicated in bold:
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Aronian, Levon (ARM)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) - Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS)

Note that for the remaining rounds, nobody is eliminated. They simply keep playing in winners and losers brackets until places 1-16 are decided. Places 1-10 continue to the next stage of the FIDE Championship cycle. So Aronian, Bacrot, Bareev, Gelfand, Grischuk, Gurevich, Ponomariov and Rublevsky have qualified for the 2006 Candidate matches (but of course, the little matter of the winner of the $100K first prize still needs to be determined). The other eight players are still fighting for the last two qualification slots.

FIDE World Cup Round 3

The following matches were decisive:
Aronian, Levon (ARM) over Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR), 1.5-0.5
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Shirov, Alexei (ESP), 1.5-0.5
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Xu, Jun (CHN), 2-0
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Tiviakov, Sergei (NED), 2-0
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) over Sokolov, Ivan (NED), 1.5-0.5

The following matches went to tiebreaks:
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) over Sutovsky, Emil (ISR)
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) over Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL)
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) over Shulman, Yuri (USA)
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Radjabov, Teimur (AZE)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Smirin, Ilia (ISR)
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) over Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Lautier, Joel (FRA) over Najer, Evgeniy (RUS)
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) over Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB)

FIDE World Cup Round 2

Ivanchuk (#1) upset by Cheparinov (#64)!

The following matches had decisive results:
Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) - Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL): 0.5-1.5
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Kempinski, Robert (POL): 1.5-0.5
Aronian, Levon (ARM) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): 2-0
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM): 2-0
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): 2-0
Lane, Gary (AUS) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO): 0.5-1.5
Sokolov, Ivan (NED) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN): 2-0
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR): 0-2
Lautier, Joel (FRA) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): 1.5-0.5
Bareev, Evgeny (RUS) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER): 1.5-0.5
Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA): 1.5-0.5
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Nikolic, Predrag (BIH): 2-0
Cao, Sang (HUN) - Xu, Jun (CHN): 0.5-1.5
Balogh, Csaba (HUN) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0.5-1.5
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK): 1.5-0.5

The following matches ended in 1-1 ties and were decided in blitz tiebreaks:
Gelfand, Boris (ISR) over Felgaer, Ruben (ARG)
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) over Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ)
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) over Motylev, Alexander (RUS)
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) over Korneev, Oleg (RUS)
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) over Paragua, Mark (PHI)
Kamsky, Gata (USA) over Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) over Onischuk, Alexander (USA)
Najer, Evgeniy (RUS) over Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) over Wang, Yue (CHN)
Harikrishna, Pentala (IND) over Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA)
Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS) over Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Van Wely, Loek (NED) over Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR)
Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS) over Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND)
Gurevich, Mikhail (BEL) over Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) over Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) over Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)

Shulman - Khalifman ended in a 3-3 tie, and the sudden death seventh game also ended in a draw so Shulman who had the Black pieces advanced to the third round.

FIDE World Cup Round 1

The 2005 FIDE World Cup is under way. The official website is here. Unlike the ones in 1999-2004, this World Cup will not determine the FIDE Champion but is only the first step in the 2005-2007 FIDE Championship cycle. The field consists of 114 GMs (including eight 2700+ players), 7 IMs, 3 FMs and 3 untitled players.

The first 10 places in this World Cup tournament will join five players with the highest ratings who do not otherwise qualify for the cycle (that would be Leko, Adams, Polgar plus Kasparov and Kramnik - I suspect we will need two substitutes) and the former FIDE champion (Kasimdzhanov) in two rounds of candidate matches. The four survivors of this elimination will join the first 4 places in the 2005 San Luis FIDE Championship tournament (Topalov, Svidler, Anand, Morozevich) for the 2007 FIDE Championship tournament.

The winners in round 1 were:

Sibriaev, Aleksandr (RUS) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR): ½-1½
Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Chumfwa, Stanley (ZAM): 2-0
Frhat, Ali (EGY) - Aronian, Levon (ARM): 0-2
Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) - Needleman, Gaston (ARG): 2-0
Kobese, Watu (RSA) - Gelfand, Boris (ISR): 0-2
Shirov, Alexei (ESP) - Kuderinov, Kiril (KAZ): 1½-½
Radjabov, Teimur (AZE) - Flores, Diego (ARG): 2-0
Ahmed, Adly (EGY) - Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR): ½-1½
Tiviakov, Sergei (NED) - Belkhodja, Slim (TUN): 2-0
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) - Sokolov, Ivan (NED): ½-1½
Dreev, Alexey (RUS) - Charbonneau, Pascal (CAN): 2-0
Zhao, Yun (CHN) - Kamsky, Gata (USA): ½-1½
Bologan, Viorel (MDA) - Matamoros, Carlos (ECU): 2-0
Rodrigo, Vasquez (CHI) - Bareev, Evgeny (RUS): ½-1½
Malakhov, Vladimir (RUS) - Wang, Hao (CHN): 1½-½
Lima, Darcy Gustavo (BRA) - Sakaev, Konstantin (RUS): 0-2
Volokitin, Andrei (UKR) - Cao, Sang (HUN): ½-1½
Kuzubov, Yuriy (UKR) - Moiseenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Sasikiran, Krishnan (IND) - Iljushin, Alexei (RUS): 1½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru (USA) - Ganguly, Surya Sekar (IND): 0-2
Stripunsky, Alexander (USA) - Areshchenko, Alexander (UKR): 0-2
Pantsulaia, Levan (GEO) - Milov, Vadim (SUI): 1½-½
Dao, Thien Hai (VIE) - Rublevsky, Sergei (RUS): ½-1½
Van Wely, Loek (NED) - Minasian, Artashes (ARM): 2-0
Xu, Jun (CHN) - Ye, Jiangchuan (CHN): 1½-½
Vescovi, Giovanni (BRA) - Adianto, Utut (INA): 1½-½
Wang, Yue (CHN) - Asrian, Karen (ARM): 1½-½
Ghaem, Maghami Ehsan (IRI) - Najer, Evgeniy (RUS): ½-1½
Naiditsch, Arkadij (GER) - Kotsur, Pavel (KAZ): 1½-½
Popov, Valerij (RUS) - Onischuk, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Granda-Zuniga, Julio (PER) - Ivanov, Alexander (USA): ½-1½
Smirnov, Pavel (RUS) - Bocharov, Dmitry (RUS): ½-1½
Paragua, Mark (PHI) - Movsesian, Sergei (SVK): 1½-½
Motylev, Alexander (RUS) - Roiz, Michael (ISR): 1½-½
Kazhgaleyev, Murtas (KAZ) - Alekseev, Evgeny (RUS): 1½-½
Ni, Hua (CHN) - Kotronias, Vasilios (GRE): ½-1½
Felgaer, Ruben (ARG) - Kaidanov, Gregory S (USA): 1½-½
Milos, Gilberto (BRA) - Sadvakasov, Darmen (KAZ): ½-1½

The following matches ended in 1-1 ties. The subsequent winner of the blitz tiebreak (Nov 29) is indicated in bold.

Pridorozhni, Aleksei (RUS) - Lautier, Joel (FRA)
Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) - Kabanov, Nikolai (RUS)
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (AZE) - Ibraev, Nurlan (KAZ)
Li, Shilong (CHN) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)
Smirin, Ilia (ISR) - Arencibia, Walter (CUB)
Yu, Shaoteng (CHN) - Harikrishna, Pentala (IND)
Kudrin, Sergey (USA) - Eljanov, Pavel (UKR)
Shulman, Yuri (USA) - Zvjaginsev, Vadim (RUS)
Karjakin, Sergey (UKR) - Balogh, Csaba (HUN)
Agrest, Evgenij (SWE) - Timofeev, Artyom (RUS)
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (GEO) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
Ammonatov, Farrukh (TJK) - Krasenkow, Michal (POL)
Sutovsky, Emil (ISR) - Hamdouchi, Hichem (MAR)
Khalifman, Alexander (RUS) - Inarkiev, Ernesto (RUS)
Gurevich, Mikhail (TUR) - Markus, Robert (SCG)
Izoria, Zviad (GEO) - Erenburg, Sergey (ISR)
Nikolic, Predrag (BIH) - Navara, David (CZE)
Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS) - Leitao, Rafael (BRA)
Macieja, Bartlomiej (POL) - Efimenko, Zahar (UKR)
Kobalia, Mikhail (RUS) - Zhang, Zhong (CHN)
Korneev, Oleg (RUS) - Miroshnichenko, Evgenij (UKR)
Beliavsky, Alexander G (SLO) - Jobava, Baadur (GEO)
Ftacnik, Lubomir (SVK) - Istratescu, Andrei (ROM)
Vaganian, Rafael A (ARM) - Kempinski, Robert (POL)
Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL) - Fedorov, Alexei (BLR)

Akopian (#7 seed) was unable to participate due to ill health, so his scheduled opponent (Lane) got a bye straight into round 2.

Chess Championship History

Check out this fascinating site describing the history of the World, USSR and US chess championships. The World Championship section makes an excellent supplement to Kasparov's My Great Predecessors.

In an earlier post I had referenced another site that discussed the world chess championship and is also well worth looking through.

Chrysalis Books sold to its management

Chrysalis has signed a conditional sale and purchase agreement for the disposal of its books division to Anova Books Company Limited, a new company formed by Robin Wood (Chief Executive of Chrysalis Books) and senior managers of Chrysalis Books, for this purpose. The terms of the Disposal provide for the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Chrysalis Books Group, together with the benefit of the outstanding inter-company debt owed by Chrysalis Books Group to Chrysalis Group at the date of the acquisition, for a purchase consideration of £12.5 million. The consideration will take the form of £9.0 million convertible 10-year loan stock and £3.5 million 3% cumulative redeemable preference shares, each to be issued by Anova and held by Chrysalis Group.

Chrysalis Books is the owner of the former Batsford Books that went bankrupt in 1999.

One final thought on Kramnik-Topalov

Kasparov thinks Topalov who won the FIDE championship ahead of the strongest active players in the world does not need to play Kramnik: "The schism in the chess world is over. It was brought about by the world champion not being the best player in the world. Now that he is, the matter can be closed."

I'm not clear on how Kasparov meshes this thought with page 9 of his own book My Great Predecessors I where he says that Kramnik is world champion 2000-? based on winning a match against him in London in 2000. Immediately following that match Kasparov declared that Kramnik was the real world champion and the FIDE rankings could be sent to the trash. So ... how exactly did the crown pass from Kramnik to Topalov?

More on Unification

Topalov should stop being a pussy and just play him already. If he is as superior as he thinks, he should have no problem beating Kramnik. Kramnik should say "whatsa matta? Afriad of losing to someone who has 60 less points than you? Bok bok bok chicken, bok bok!!!"

I agree completely. The SOA (or CAS) are often asked if completing certain coursework exempts you from taking certain exams. The Society's response: "Individuals who claim competence in the areas covered by the examinations should not have difficulty demonstrating their competence by participating in the examination process."

A few things worth noting:
1. When Kramnik played Kasparov in 2000, Kasparov's rating was 79 points higher than Kramnik's. That didn't stop Kramnik from spanking Kasparov 2-0.
2. Kramnik’s record against Topalov is +19 -9 =34. Even this year (Topalov’s best and Kramnik’s worst), they have two wins apiece and two draws.
3. NOW Kramnik is rated 60 points lower. But in 2002 Topalov tried to qualify at Dortmund to play Kramnik for the title, when Topalov was rated (you guessed it) 60 points lower.

I am of the opinion that the WC should be won in a match. However, even if the title in the future were to be won in a tournament in the future, today Topalov still needs to play Kramnik to take his title from him. The problem is that Topalov knows he doesn't have the match experience necessary to beat Kramnik.

Unification Dead

Kramnik: Generally speaking, I believe that the World Champion should be determined exclusively in a match. As for a candidates' qualification scheme it is quite acceptable to have it organized as in San Luis. For example, half of the participants according to their ratings, the other half through a qualification cycle. The knockout system proposed, actively agitated for, and imposed by FIDE has long since compromised itself. In accordance with the Prague Agreement of 2002 I am prepared to play in a reunification match. I've read comments in the press that Veselin does not believe I am a worthy contender for the title, given my relatively low rating as the basis for his argument. World championship and tournament performance are two entirely separate entities. I firmly believe that I am the real World Chess Champion. I won this title in a contest against Kasparov and later defended my title in a match against Leko. My title is legitimate and this was acknowledged even by FIDE in the Prague Accords. Should anyone, like Topalov, believe that he is stronger, let him beat me in a match.

Topalov: Topalov is not going to accept an unscheduled challenge by a player who is 60 points below him in the ratings list. Garry Kasparov agrees with Topalov and thinks the Bulgarian who won the FIDE championship ahead of the strongest active players in the world does not need to play Kramnik: "The schism in the chess world is over. It was brought about by the world champion not being the best player in the world. Now that he is, the matter can be closed." Topalov: "Kramnik is one of the best players of the last decade. However, he is currently number seven in FIDE world rankings, and I don’t think he has the right to challenge me. When I was the world's number seven player it never occurred to me that I had the right to challenge world's number one.” Topalov stressed that Kramnik had been invited to San Luis, but had refused to participate. Hence, in Topalov’s opinion, Kramnik has automatically lost the right to contend for the title. It is certainly true that five years ago Kramnik had defeated Kasparov. However, according to Topalov, Kramnik’s latest results do not provide sufficient grounds to have any claims for the title. Topalov: “There’s a big difference in our ratings. In chess 60 Elo points means a different class altogether. If Vladimir was offered to play against someone 60 Elo points below himself he’d simply burst out laughing. I do not believe we can play for the title because I’ve already won it here in San Luis. A Topalov-Kramnik match for the title is out of question, because FIDE has organised a two-year cycle for the world championship, analogous to the one we had in San Luis, where eight qualifiers will fight for the title. Thus the tournament shall determine the new holder of the Crown. That is the plan."

Kronsteen – McAdams, 1963

Continuing my theme of fictional chess scenes based on real chess games.

In the famous chess scene at the beginning of the Bond movie "From Russia With Love" we see Kronsteen of SPECTRE playing the Canadian McAdams. The score is 11½–11½. The scene is based on Spassky-Bronstein from the 1960 USSR Championship.

Spassky-Bronstein
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.d4 0-0 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.0-0 h6 9.Ne4 Nxd5 10.c4 Ne3 11.Bxe3 fxe3 12.c5 Be7 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Qd3 e2 15.Nd6 Nf8 16.Nxf7 exf1Q+ 17.Rxf1 Bf5 18.Qxf5 Qd7 19.Qf4 Bf6 20.N3e5 Qe7 21.Bb3 Bxe5

This is the starting position in the movie, except that the two White pawns on d4 and c5 were removed. Both the real and movie games continued...

22.Nxe5+ Kh7 23.Qe4+ (1-0)

However, what's odd is that in the original game, 22....Kh7 was not a blunder as Black had no defense. But in the movie, McAdams could have defended with 22....Ne6, which would not have worked in the position facing Bronstein.

So my question is WHY would the movie producers change the board position? Were they TRYING to make the point that Kronsteen could have been held off with calm defense, or am I giving them too much credit?

FIDE Championship (Final) Round 14

Results:
Topalov-Polgar, ½-½
Svidler-Anand, ½-½
Morozevich-Adams, ½-½
Leko-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0

The games
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch14.htm

Final Standings:


Some things to note:

• Topalov was the only player to go undefeated, beating every other player except Anand by 1.5-0.5. His performance rating was 2890. At the end of the first half, he had scored +6 =1 for a performance of 3177 and was well positioned to break Karpov's record performance at Linares 1994, but in the second half he drew all seven games.
• Judith Polgar had a horrible tournament, losing 6 times and turning in a 2610 performance
• Morozevich and Polgar were the only players to get skunked (by Svidler and Anand, respectively).
• Adams (-3 =11) was the only player to go through the tournament without a single win.

FIDE Championship Round 13 - It's All Over

Topalov the winner with one round to go!

Results:
Kasimdzhanov-Topalov, ½-½
Adams-Leko, ½-½
Anand-Morozevich, ½-½
Polgar-Svidler, ½-½

Standings:
Topalov - 9.5
Anand, Svidler - 8
Morozevich - 6.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5.5
Adams - 5
Polgar - 4

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch13.htm

FIDE Championship Round 12

Results:
Topalov-Svidler, ½-½
Morozevich-Polgar, ½-½
Leko-Anand, 0-1
Kasimdzhanov-Adams, ½-½

Standings:
Topalov - 9
Anand, Svidler - 7.5
Morozevich - 6
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 5
Adams - 4.5
Polgar - 3.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch12.htm

FIDE Championship Round 11

Results:
Adams-Topalov, ½-½
Anand-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Polgar-Leko, ½-½
Svidler-Morozevich, 1-0

Standings:
Topalov - 8.5
Svidler - 7
Anand - 6.5
Morozevich - 5.5
Leko - 5
Kasimdzhanov - 4.5
Adams - 4
Polgar - 3

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch11.htm

FIDE Championship Round 10

Results:
Topalov-Morozevich, ½-½
Leko-Svidler, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Polgar, 1-0
Adams-Anand, ½-½

Standings:
Topalov - 8
Svidler - 6
Anand, Morozevich- 5.5
Kasimdzhanov, Leko - 4.5
Adams - 3.5
Polgar - 2.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch10.htm

FIDE Championship Round 9

Results:
Anand-Topalov, ½-½
Polgar-Adams, ½-½
Svidler-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½
Morozevich-Leko, 1-0

Standings:
Topalov - 7.5
Svidler - 5.5
Morozevich, Anand - 5
Leko - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3.5
Adams - 3
Polgar - 2.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch09.htm

FIDE Championship Round 8

Results:
Topalov-Leko, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Morozevich, 0-1
Adams-Svidler, ½-½
Anand-Polgar, 1-0

Standings:
Topalov - 7
Svidler - 5
Anand - 4.5
Leko, Morozevich - 4
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Adams - 2.5
Polgar - 2

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch08.htm

FIDE Championship Round 7

Topalov wins 6 out of 7!

Topalov won every game except against Anand. His performance rating stands at an amazing 3177!

Results:
Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Leko-Adams, 1-0
Morozevich-Anand, 1-0
Svidler-Polgar, 1-0

Standings:
Topalov - 6.5
Svidler - 4.5
Leko, Anand - 3.5
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov - 3
Polgar - 2.5
Adams - 2

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch07.htm

FIDE Championship Round 6

Results:
Polgar-Topalov, 0-1
Anand-Svidler, ½-½
Adams-Morozevich, ½-½
Kasimdzhanov-Leko, ½-½

Standings:
Topalov - 5.5 (very impressive!)
Anand, Svidler - 3.5
Kasimdzhanov - 3
Leko - 2.5
Adams, Morozevich, Polgar - 2

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch06.htm

FIDE Championship Round 5

Results:
Svidler-Topalov, 0-1
Polgar-Morozevich, ½-½
Anand-Leko, ½-½
Adams-Kasimdzhanov, ½-½

Standings:
Topalov - 4.5 (nice lead)
Anand, Svidler - 3
Kasimdzhanov - 2.5
Leko, Polgar - 2
Adams, Morozevich - 1.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch05.htm

FIDE Championship Round 4

Four decisive games again.

Results:
Topalov-Adams, 1-0
Kasimdzhanov-Anand, 1-0
Leko-Polgar, 1-0
Morozevich-Svidler, 0-1

Standings:
Topalov - 3.5
Svidler - 3
Anand - 2.5
Kasimdzhanov - 2
Leko, Polgar - 1.5
Morozevich, Adams - 1

Aside from the chess, a great deal of entertainment can be had from reading the English version of the website, which is translated from the Spanish original either by a computer program or by someone with limited command of English. For example, in commenting on the Leko-Polgar game, the site says, "Leko changed his face and won, replacing himself on the race track." If you read the Spanish comments, this should have been translated as, "Leko about faced and won, placing himself once gain on the race track."

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch04.htm

FIDE Top 20

1 Kasparov, Garry g RUS 2812
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788
3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2782
4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2751
5 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2748
6 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2740
7 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2739
8 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735
9 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2725
10 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2724
11 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2720
12 Adams, Michael g ENG 2718
13 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2717
14 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2710
15 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROM 2707
16 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2707
17 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2707
18 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2704
19 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2704
20 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2700

Notes:

• The top five are unchanged, although Topalov dropped 6 points, allowing Anand to claim the #2 slot by himself.
• Kramnik drops another slot, as he and Svidler trade places because Kramnik lost 5 points and Svidler gained 2 points.
• There's three brand new names in the 2700+ list: Nisipeanu, Radjabov and Tiviakov. And two players fell off: Kamsky and Bologan. So the 2700 club is up to 20 members.
• The top rated US player is Kamsky, at #23 with a rating of 2690 (down 4 slots and 10 points from the July 2005 list).

FIDE Championship Round 3

Four decisive results, quite a change from last round.

Results:
Morozevich-Topalov, 0-1
Svidler-Leko, 1-0
Polgar-Kasimdzhanov, 1-0
Anand-Adams, 1-0

Standings:
Anand, Topalov - 2.5
Svidler - 2
Polgar - 1.5
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov, Adams - 1
Leko - 0.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch03.htm

FIDE Championship Round 2

Results:
Topalov-Anand, 0.5-0.5 (97 moves)
Adams-Polgar, 0.5-0.5 (48 moves)
Kasimdzhanov-Svidler, 0.5-0.5 (24 moves)
Leko-Morozevich, 0.5-0.5 (69 moves)

Standings:
Anand, Topalov - 1.5
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov, Svidler, Adams - 1
Leko, Polgar - 0.5

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch02.htm

FIDE Championship Round 1

Results:
Leko-Topalov, 0-1
Morozevich-Kasimdzhanov, 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Adams, 0.5-0.5
Polgar-Anand, 0-1

Standings:
Anand, Topalov - 1
Morozevich, Kasimdzhanov, Svidler, Adams - 0.5
Leko, Polgar - 0

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2005/sanluis/games/wcch01.htm

Grew-Schwartz, 827 GE (ca. 13000 AD)

As long as I'm posting games from literature, here's the game played between Grew and Schwartz in chapter 11 of Asimov's Pebble in the Sky. It too was an actual game.

Verlinsky-Levenfisch
Third USSR Championship, Moscow 1924
First Brilliancy Prize
Ruy Lopez [C84]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.O-O b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d3 O-O 9.Nd5 Na5 10.Nxe7+ Qxe7 11.Ne1 Nxb3 12.axb3 Nd7 13.f4 f5 14.exf5 Rxf5 15.Nf3 Bb7 16.Bd2 exf4 17.Nd4 Rg5 18.Nf3 Rg4 19.h3 Rxg2+ 20.Kxg2 Qg5+ 21.Kh1 Ne5 22.Qe2 Qg3 23.Qg2 Nxf3 24.Bc3 Nd4 25.Qxb7 Qxh3+ 26.Kg1 Ne2+ 27.Kf2 Qe3+

The actual ending of the game was 28.Ke1 Nxc3#, but in the book the ending was given as 28.Kg2 Qg3+ 29.Kh1 Qh3#.

Poole-HAL, 2001

I was watching the movie 2010 this weekend, and I got curious about the famous game between Poole and HAL in 2001. I had heard that it was based on a real game. Here's what I found at the ChessGames website.

Roesch - Schlage, Hamburg 1910
Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack [C86]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nf4 11.Qe4 Nxe5 12.Qxa8 Qd3 13.Bd1 Bh3

This is the initial position shown on the screen in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

14.Qxa6 Bxg2 15.Re1 Qf3 (0-1)

In the film, this move was incorrectly given by HAL9000 as "Queen to Bishop Three" instead of the correct "Queen to Bishop Six." Apparently some fans of the film believe that this error was intentional and meant to let the alert (and chess-savvy) viewer know that something was wrong with HAL.

I seriously doubt this! My evidence: the fact that there are several other sloppy oversights in the film. The most grotesque is that they refer to the monolith's dimensions as 1x4x9, bringing to film what was an important element of the book. However, if you look at the monolith on the screen it is nowhere near 1x4x9, not even close. If they weren't going to take the care to make the monolith the right size, then it would have been better just to avoid any mention of the 1x4x9 dimensions.

The forced mate sequence is 16.Qc8 Rxc8 17.h3 Nxh3+ 18.Kh2 Ng4#

Atlanta Chess Center

The Atlanta Chess Center finally got itself a website: http://www.atlantachessclub.com/

An interesting draw

RMD-ALD, 9/11/2005 [D00]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.Nb5 Na6 5.e3 c6 6.Nc3 Nb4 {6...Nc7, Van Vliet - Schippers, Hengelo 2002} 7.Bd3 Nxd3+ 8.cxd3 e6 9.Nf3 Bb4 10.Ne5 O-O 11.Qb3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qa5 13.O-O Ng4 14.c4 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 dxc4 16.dxc4 b6 17.a3 Rfd8 18.Qb4 Qxb4 19.axb4 f6 20.Bg3 Rd7 21.c5 bxc5 22.bxc5 Rb7 23.Bd6 a5 24.f3 Rb2 25.e4 Bg6 26.Rf2 Rxf2 27.Kxf2 a4 28.g4 Kf7 29.h4 h5 30.g5 fxg5 31.hxg5 Ke8 32.Kg3 Kd7 33.Be5 a3 34.Bxg7 a2 35.Be5 Ra3 36.Kf4 Ra4 37.Ke3 Ra3+ 38.Kf2 Kc8 39.Bg3 Kb7 40.Ke2 Ka6 41.Kd2 Kb5 42.Be1 {42.Bf2 and the two saved tempos make all the difference and the position is a draw. Now Black gets (very slim) winning chances. - ALD} Kc4 43.Bf2 Kb3 {43...Rxf3! 44.Ke2 Rxf2+ 45.Kxf2 Kb3 -/+} 44.Kc1 {44.d5} Kc3 {44...Ra4! -/+} 45.d5 exd5 46.exd5 cxd5 47.c6 Rb3 {Ending any remaining winning chances. Better is 47.Ra4. - ALD} 48.Be1+ Kd4 49.Rxa2 Rb1+?! {Very weak. Correct was 49...Ke3=. Now it is actually White that has winning chances. - ALD]} 50.Kd2 Rb8 51.Ra6?! {51.c7! +/-} Rb2+ 52.Kd1 Rb1+ Draw {My wife was almost out of time, 0:29 - 0:25 (G/30 time limit), but gets a draw. We both played the endgame very weakly, but at least this game was free of any major blunders. - ALD}

Two more games

ALD-RMD, 7/7/2005 [D07]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Qa4 {Not best according to the book, but I've never learned the book well enough to get an advantage against her pet Chigorin Defense. So I decided to improvise.} Nf6 4.Nf3 {4.e3, Andersson Johan 2148 - Aijala Jouko 2155, Lahti 1996} Bd7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.Ng5 e6 8.Nf3 Bd6 9.Bg5? {9.e4} f6 {9...Nxd4! 10.Bxd8 (10.Nxd4 Qxg5-/+) Nxb3 11.axb3 Rxd8-/+} 10.Bh4 Qe7 11.e4!? {11.e3} e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 {13...Bxe5} 14.Nd2 O-O-O 15.Rc1 {15.Bg3} Ba4! 16.Qc3 Qxc3 17.Rxc3 Bb4! 18.Rd3 {Better is 18.Bg3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Bc6 20.f3} Bc2 {18...Rxd3 19.Bxd3 Rd8-+} 19.Rg3? {19.Rc3} Bxd2+ 20.Ke2 g5! 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Kf3 Rhe8 23.Bb5 Rxe4 24.Rc1 Rf4+ 25.Ke2 Bg6 26.Rgc3 Kb8 {26...Rb4!} 27.Rxc7 Rb4! 28.a4 Rxb2+ 0-1

RMD-ALD, 7/3/2005 [C55]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Nd5 Nxe4 6.O-O Nxf2!? 7.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 O-O? {8...d6} 9.d3 {9.d4!} d6 10.Be3 Bg4 11.c3 Ne7? 12.h3 {12.Bg5!} Be6 13.Qb3? c6 {13...Bxd5! 14.Bxd5 c6!} 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.d4!? {15.Bg5=} Bxc4 16.Qxc4 d5 17.Qa4 {17.Qc5!} e4 18.Nd2 f5 19.Ke2? {19.g3} f4! 20.Bg1 f3+ 21.Kf1 fxg2+ 22.Kxg2 Qg5+ 23.Kh1 Qxd2 24.Qb3? Rf3! 0-1

FIDE Championship

It looks like the FIDE Championship is taking place after all. The first round is scheduled for September 28th. Not sure about its sporting value, but at least it looks like they have funding, at least enough to put an official website up.

The players will be
#2 Anand (2788)
#3 Topalov (2788)
#4 Leko (2763)
#7 Svidler (2738)
#8 Polgar (2735)
#13 Adams (2719)
#14 Morozevich (2707)
#35 Kasimdzhanov (2670)

Of course #1 Kasparov is retired, and #6 Kramnik (Classical Champion) would not participate in this event. However, there's no word on why #5 Ivanchuk is not participating while MUCH lower rated Morozevich is. (Adams is taking part as the runner-up from the last FIDE Championship.)

Dortmund Final Results - Naiditsch the winner!!

                Rtng Score N T B V S K A L S N Perf Chg
-------------------------------------------------------
1: Naiditsch, A 2612 5.5 / X 0 = = = = = 1 1 1 2799 +23
2: Topalov, V   2788 5.0 / 1 X = 1 = 0 0 1 = = 2743 -6
3: Bacrot, E    2729 5.0 / = = X 0 = 1 1 = 1 0 2749 +2
4: Van Wely, L  2655 5.0 / = 0 1 X = = 1 0 1 = 2758 +14
5: Svidler, P   2738 5.0 / = = = = X = = 1 = = 2748 +1
6: Kramnik, V   2744 4.5 / = 1 0 = = X = = 0 1 2705 -5
7: Adams, M     2719 4.5 / = 1 0 0 = = X = = 1 2707 -2
8: Leko, P      2763 4.0 / 0 0 = 1 0 = = X = 1 2660 -14
9: Sutovsky, E  2674 3.5 / 0 = 0 0 = 1 = = X = 2632 -5
10: Nielsen, PH 2668 3.0 / 0 = 1 = = 0 0 0 = X 2588 -9
-------------------------------------------------------

Naiditsch (the lowest rated participant) won undivided first place, with 5.5 points and a 2800 performance. Hearty congratulations!

White trounced in this tournament, +16 =24 -5.

The games can be found in PGN format here.

Dortmund Round 9

Bacrot-Kramnik

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 Bd7 11. O-O Bc6 12. Qg4 O-O 13. Bh6 Qf6 14. Bg5 Qg615. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Qh4 f6 17. Be3 Rfd8 18. Rab1 Qf7 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bxc5 dxc521. Qe4 e5 22. Rb2 Rab8 23. Rfb1 Rxb2 24. Rxb2 Qd7 25. Kg2 Re8 26. Qe3 Qe7 27.a4 g6 28. a5 Rd8 29. a6 Rd7 30. Rb8+ Kg7 31. Rc8 Qd6 32. Qe4 f5 33. Qxc6 Qxc6+34. Rxc6 Kf7 35. f4 exf4 36. gxf4 Re7 37. Kf3 Ke8 38. Rxc5 Kd7 39. Re5 Rxe5 40.fxe5 g5 41. c5 h6 42. c4 h5 43. h4 g4+ 44. Kf4 Ke6 45. c6 Ke7 46. c5 Ke6 47. c7 Kd7 48. e6+ Kxc7 49. e3 Kc6 50. Ke5 g3 51. e7 Kd7 52. Kf6 g2 53. c6+ Kc7 54.e8=Q g1=Q 55. Qd7+ Kb6 56. c7 1-0

Sutovsky-Adams

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4 f6 10. Nh4 g6 11. g3 Nc5 12. Bh6 Rf7 13. b4 Ne6 14. Qd2 c5 15.Kh1 b5 16. Na5 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Qxf8 18. a3 cxb4 19. axb4 c5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4Qh6 22. Ng2 cxb4 23. Qxb4 Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. f5 Nc5 26. Ne3 gxf5 27. Nxf5Bxf5 28. Rxf5 Rc8 29. Raf1 Nd7 30. c4 Rc5 31. R5f2 Re7 32. d4 Rc7 33. c5 Rxe434. c6 Nb6 35. Rxf6+ Kg7 36. Rd6 Re2 37. Nb7 Nc8 38. Rd7+ Re7 39. Rxc7 Rxc7 40.d5 Nb6 41. Nd6 Kg8 42. Ne8 Rc8 43. Nf6+ Kg7 44. d6 Rxc6 45. d7 Nxd7 46. Nxd7 a5 47. Rg1+ Kh6 48. Ne5 Rc5 49. Nf7+ Kh5 50. Nd6 b4 51. Rb1 1/2-1/2

Nielsen-VanWely

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 Rb8 8. e4b5 9. d5 Nb4 10. b3 cxb3 11. Qxb3 c5 12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Bf4 Rb7 14. e5 Nd7 15.Ne4 Na5 16. Qc3 Qc7 17. Qd4 Qb6 18. Rfc1 Rb8 19. Rab1 Bb7 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21.Qxb6 Nxb6 22. exd6 Rc8 23. Ne5 Rxc1+ 24. Rxc1 f6 25. Rc7 fxe5 26. Re7+ Kd8 27.Bd2 Nac4 28. Rxb7 Nxd2 29. Rxb6 Kd7 30. Rxa6 Rc8 31. h4 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc2 33.Ra7+ Kxd6 34. Rxg7 h6 35. g4 Rxa2 36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 e4 38. g6 Ra8 39. Rb7 Rg8 40. Rb6+ Ke7 41. Rxb5 Rxg6 42. Rb2 Nf3+ 43. Bxf3 exf3 44. Rb3 Rg2+ 45. Kh3 Rxf2 46. Kg3 Rf1 47. Rxf3 Rxf3+ 48. Kxf3 Kd6 49. Ke4 1/2-1/2

Topalov-Leko

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4 Be7 14. a3 Be615. Ncb4 Nxb4 16. axb4 Ra8 17. g3 Qd7 18. Bg2 Bd8 19. O-O Qc6 20. Ne3 a5 21.bxa5 Bxa5 22. Nf5 Qd7 23. Qd2 Bc7 24. Ne3 Qc6 25. Nf5 Qd7 26. Qg5 f6 27. Qd2 d528. Ne3 d4 29. cxd4 Qxd4 30. Qc2 Rxa1 31. Rxa1 Bb6 32. Rd1 Qc5 33. Qe2 Bb3 34.Rd3 Bc4 35. Nxc4 Qxc4 36. b3 Qb4 37. Bh3 Bd4 38. Kg2 g6 39. Be6+ Kh8 40. h5 Qe741. Qg4 Re8 42. Bd5 f5 43. Qh3 fxe4 44. Bxe4 gxh5 45. Qxh5 Rf8 46. Rd2 Qf7 47.Qh6 Qg7 48. Qc6 b4 49. Qd6 Bc3 50. Ra2 Qf6 51. Qc5 Kg7 52. Ra7+ Rf7 53. Bd5Rxa7 54. Qxa7+ Kf8 55. Qxh7 Bd4 56. Qc2 Bc3 57. Qa2 Qd8 58. Bc4 Ke7 59. Qa7+Qd7 60. Qa8 Kd6 61. Bd5 Kc5 62. Bf3 Kd6 63. Qb8+ Ke7 64. Qa8 Qd8 65. Qe4 Qd766. Qh4+ Kd6 67. Qf6+ Qe6 68. Qd8+ Kc5 69. Qa5+ Kd4 70. Qa7+ Kd3 71. Qa2 Kd472. Kf1 e4 73. Qa7+ Ke5 74. Qc7+ Kd4 75. Qa7+ Ke5 76. Qe3 Qxb3 77. Qxe4+ Kf6 78. Kg2 Qe6 79. Qd3 Qe5 80. Bd5 Qf5 81. Be4 Qc5 82. Bd5 Ke5 83. Qe4+ Kd6 84.Qe6+ Kc7 85. f4 Qd6 86. Qe4 Qd7 87. Kf3 Kd6 88. g4 Qb5 89. Qe6+ Kc5 90. Ke4Qe2+ 91. Kf5 Qd3+ 92. Be4 Qd8 93. g5 Qf8+ 94. Kg4 Qd6 95. Qxd6+ Kxd6 96. Bc2 Ke7 97. Kh5 Kf7 98. Kh6 Kg8 99. f5 Kh8 100. Kg6 Bd4 101. f6 Be3 102. Kf5 Kg8 103. Bb3+ Kh8 104. g6 Bh6 105. Ke6 Bg7 106. fxg7+ 1-0

Svidler-Naiditsch - Draw in 21 moves

Dortmund Round 8

Kramnik-Nielsen

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nc68. Qd2 Bg4 9. Be2 Qd7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Rhe1 O-O-O 12. h3 Be6 13. c4 Kb8 14. Qc3Bf6 15. Qa3 Qe7 16. Be3 h5 17. Kb1 g5 18. b4 g4 19. Nd2 Nd4 20. Bd3 d5 21. c5Bg7 22. hxg4 hxg4 23. Nb3 Nxb3 24. axb3 c6 25. Bf4+ Ka7 26. b5 cxb5 27. Bxb5Rc8 28. Bd6 Qf6 29. Be5 Qg5 30. Bxg7 Qxg7 31. c6 Qf8 32. b4 Qd6 33. Rd4 Rc7 34.Kb2 Rhc8 35. c3 Rxc6 36. Bxc6 Rxc6 37. g3 Rc4 38. Red1 Qe5 39. Qb3 Rxd4 40.Rxd4 Qe1 41. Qc2 b5 42. Rd1 Qe5 43. Qd2 Kb7 44. Re1 Qf5 45. Qe3 Qf6 46. Rh1 Qf547. Rh8 Qf6 48. Re8 Bd7 49. Re7 Kc8 50. Qc5+ Kd8 51. Re2 1-0

Leko-Sutovsky

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1a5 9. a3 Nd4 10. Nd2 c6 11. e3 Ne6 12. Nf3 Nc5 13. b4 axb4 14. axb4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 e4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bb2 Bxb2 18. Rxb2 Qf6 19. Qd4 Be6 20. Rc1 Ra4 21.Qxf6 Nxf6 22. Nd4 Rfa8 23. Rbb1 Bd7 24. h3 Ra2 25. g4 h5 26. g5 Nh7 27. h4 f628. gxf6 Nxf6 29. Bf3 Ng4 30. Bxg4 Bxg4 31. c5 Rf8 32. Rc2 Rxc2 33. Nxc2 Bf534. Rb2 dxc5 35. bxc5 Bxc2 36. Rxc2 Rb8 37. Kg2 b6 38. cxb6 Rxb6 39. Kg3 Kg740. Kf4 Kf6 41. e4 Kg7 42. f3 Ra6 43. Rc5 Rb6 44. Rc3 Kf6 45. Rc1 Kg7 46. Rd1Rb2 47. Rc1 Rb6 48. Rc5 Kf6 49. Ra5 Rb1 50. Rc5 Rb6 51. Rc3 Ra6 52. e5+ Kg7 53.Rd3 Ra1 54. Rd7+ Kh6 55. Rc7 Rc1 56. e6 Re1 57. Rxc6 Kg7 58. Rb6 Re2 59. Rb7+Kf6 60. e7 Rxe7 61. Rxe7 Kxe7 62. Kg5 Kf7 63. f4 Kg7 64. f5 gxf5 65. Kxf5 Kf766. Kg5 Kg7 67. Kxh5 1/2-1/2

VanWely-Topalov

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 f6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8. Bf4O-O-O 9. O-O c4 10. Bc2 Qb6 11. b3 cxb3 12. Bxb3 g5 13. Be3 g4 14. Ne1 Na5 15.Bc2 f5 16. Nd3 Kb8 17. a4 Rc8 18. Qe2 Qa6 19. Qe1 b6 20. Na3 Bxa3 21. Rxa3 Ne722. Nb4 Qb7 23. Bd3 Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. a5 b5 26. a6 Qa8 27. Qe2 Nd5 28. Nxd5Qxd5 29. f4 h5 30. Rb1 h4 31. Kf1 Bc6 32. Bg1 Ka8 33. Rb4 Rb8 34. Ra2 Rb6 35.Ke1 h3 36. g3 Rc8 37. Be3 Bd7 38. Ra5 Qh1+ 39. Kd2 Bc6 40. Qf2 Bd5 41. Qg1 Qe442. Kc1 Rcc6 43. Qf2 Rxa6 44. Raxb5 Ra1+ 45. Rb1 Rxb1+ 46. Rxb1 Ra6 47. Qd2 Qh1+ 0-1

Naiditsch-Bacrot - Draw in 23 moves

Adams-Svidler - Draw in 20 moves

Dortmund Round 7

Bacrot-Adams

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 b5 14. Re1 dxe4 15.Bxe4 bxc4 16. bxc4 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Nb6 19. Ba5 Bf6 20. Rb1 Rb8 21. Qf3Qd7 22. Bxb6 axb6 23. Ne4 Bd4 24. Qf4 h6 25. a4 Rbe8 26. Rxb6 Qxa4 27. Reb1Bxc4 28. Bc6 Qa5 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. h4 Be5 31. Nf6+ Bxf6 32. Qxc4 Qc3 33. Qxc3Bxc3 34. Rb8 Kf8 35. h5 Rxb8 36. Rxb8+ Ke7 37. Kf1 Kf6 38. Rb7 Bd4 39. Ke2 Kg540. Rxf7 Kxh5 41. Kf3 Kg6 42. Rf8 Kg5 43. g4 Bf6 44. Kg3 Kg6 45. f4 h5 46. g5Be7 47. Re8 Kf7 48. Rc8 Ke6 49. Kf3 Bd6 50. Ke4 g6 51. Rh8 Be7 52. Rh6 Kf7 53.Rh7+ 1-0

Svidler-Leko

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. O-O Qe7 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Ne6 14. Rf2 Nd415. Raf1 Be6 16. Ng4 O-O-O 17. Nxh6 f6 18. Nd1 Rh7 19. c3 Nb5 20. Rf3 c4 21.Ng4 Rxd3 22. Qe2 Bxg4 23. hxg4 Qe5 24. Bf4 Qc5+ 25. Nf2 Bh6 26. Bxh6 Rxh6 27.Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qxd3 Rh8 29. Rd1 Qe7 30. e5 fxe5 31. Qxg6 Kb8 32. g5 Nc7 33. Qf6Qe8 34. Rd7 Kc8 35. Re7 Qd8 36. Qf5+ Kb8 37. Qxe5 Rg8 38. Ne4 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Qh5+40. Kg3 Rc8 41. Nf6 1-0

Nielsen-Naiditsch

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Nd7 7. Qxc4 Nb6 8.Qb5 Bd7 9. Qb3 Na5 10. Qc2 Rc8 11. O-O c5 12. Nc3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Bb4 14. Qe4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O 16. Rd1 Bc6 17. Qg4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 f5 19. Qh5 Qd5+ 20. Qf3Rfe8 21. Qxd5 Nxd5 22. Nb5 Nc4 23. Rd4 a6 24. Na3 Nxa3 25. Bxa3 Rxc3 26. Bd6Rc2 27. Kf1 Rec8 28. a4 Rc1+ 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kg2 Kf7 31. e4 fxe4 32. Rxe4 b533. axb5 axb5 34. Re2 b4 35. Ra2 b3 36. Ra7+ Kf6 37. Rb7 Rc6 38. Ba3 Rb6 39.Bb2+ e5 40. Rd7 Rb5 41. Kf3 Nb6 42. Rb7 h5 43. Ke2 Kf5 44. h4 Ke4 45. f3+ Kd546. Kd3 g6 47. Rb8 Ke6 48. g4 Kd5 49. Rb7 hxg4 50. fxg4 e4+ 51. Ke2 Rc5 52.Rxb6 Rc2+ 53. Ke3 Rxb2 54. Rxg6 Rb1 55. Rg5+ Ke6 56. Rb5 b2 57. Kd2 e3+ 58. Kc2e2 0-1

Sutovsky-Topalov

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 e5 8. Nf3 Ng4 9. Qd2 Nxe3 10. Qxe3 exf4 11. Qxf4 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Nd5 Be6 14. Kb1 Rc8 15. g4 Bxd5 16. exd5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Qe4 Qd6 19. h4 g6 20. h5 Bg5 21.Qg2 Rc5 22. Bd3 b5 23. Rdf1 Qxd5 24. Be4 Qd6 25. hxg6 fxg6 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. Qh3Rf6 28. Qxh7+ Qxh7 29. Rd8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Rxh7 Rc4 32. Bxg6 Rxg4 33.a3 Be3 34. Bd3 b4 35. axb4 Rxb4 36. c3 Rf4 37. Bc2 e4 38. Rh8+ Ke7 39. Rh7+ Kf640. Rh6+ Kf5 41. Rh5+ Kg4 42. Re5 Kf3 43. Bd1+ Kf2 44. Bc2 Kf3 45. Bd1+ Kf2 1/2-1/2

Kramnik-VanWely - Draw in 37 moves

Dortmund Round 6

Naiditsch-Kramnik

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc68. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. Be2 Ng4 11. Bd4 c5 12. h3 cxd4 13. hxg4 dxc3 14.Qxc3 Bxg4 15. Bd3 h5 16. Qc4 Re8 17. Bh7+ Kf8 18. Qf4 Qb6 19. c3 Bf6 20. Rxd6Qxf2 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Qxf6 Qe3+ 23. Kb1 Rad8 24. a3 Qe6 25. Qf4 Kg7 26. Bc2Qf6 27. Qg3 Kf8 28. Nd4 Re5 29. Bb3 Rde8 30. Ka2 a6 31. Rc1 Kg7 32. Rc2 Re3 33.Qh2 Qe5 34. Qh4 f6 35. Rf2 Re4 36. g3 Re7 37. Qh2 Re1 38. Rf4 Re4 39. Rf2 Qg540. Bc2 Qd5+ 41. Bb3 Qc5 42. Bc2 Re1 43. Rf5 R1e5 44. Rf4 Be6+ 45. Bb3 Bxb3+46. Kxb3 Re4 47. Rf5 Qb6+ 48. Kc2 Rxd4 49. Rxh5 Rd6 50. Rh7+ Kf8 51. Rh8+ Kf752. Qh5+ Ke6 53. Qg4+ f5 54. Qc4+ Ke5 55. Qf4+ Ke6 56. Qc4+ Ke5 57. Qf4+ Ke658. Qc4+ 1/2-1/2

Topalov-Svidler

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.O-O Qc7 9. Re1 Bb7 10. Qf3 Bd6 11. e5 Bf8 12. Ne2 Ne7 13. Nf4 g6 14. c4 Bg7 15.Qe2 O-O 16. Bd2 dxc4 17. Bxc4 c5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Nd3 Nf5 20. f3 Rd4 21. Bg5 a5 22. Qf2 h5 23. b3 Qb6 24. a4 Rc8 25. Rc3 Bd5 26. Bb5 Qb8 27. Qb2 c4 28. bxc4 Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxc4 30. Qd2 Rb4 31. f4 Bf8 32. Kh1 Qb6 33. Rc1 Nd4 34. Qf2 Qa7 35. Be8 Bc5 36. Rdc3 Nb3 37. Rxc5 Nxc1 38. Bxf7+ Kxf7 39. Rxd5 Qxf2 40. Rd7+ 1/2-1/2

Leko-Bacrot

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2 Nc5 15.Bc2 c6 16. b4 Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. Qxg4Bd7 22. Qf3 Rc8 23. Bb3 Be6 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. a4 Qc7 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra3 Ra828. Rea1 Rxa3 29. Rxa3 Be7 30. Qd3 Qc6 31. Ne3 Rc8 32. g3 Bg5 33. h4 Bxe3 34.Qxe3 Kh7 35. Ra5 Qxc3 36. Qxc3 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc4 38. Rb6 Rxe4 39. Rxd6 Rxb4 40.Rxe6 Rb5 41. Kg2 1/2-1/2

VanWely-Sutovsky

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa115. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Bh6 e5 18. Qf2 Re8 19. Bb5 Re7 20. f4 Rc8 21. fxe5Rxe5 22. Ng3 Nc4 23. Qxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxf6 a6 25. Ba4 b5 26. Bd1 a5 27. Bg4 Rd828. Rc6 Ree8 29. Rc7 Ne5 30. Be2 Rc8 31. Rb7 b4 32. Bf4 g5 33. Bxg5 Rb8 34.Rxb8 Rxb8 35. Bf4 Re8 36. Bb5 Ng6 37. Bxe8 Bxe8 38. Bc7 a4 39. Ne2 Bb5 40. Kf2a3 41. Nc1 Bc4 42. Bd6 Bxa2 43. Nxa2 b3 44. Bxa3 bxa2 45. Bb2 Nf4 46. Bc3 Kf747. g3 Nd3+ 48. Ke3 Nb4 49. Kd4 Nc2+ 50. Kd3 Ne1+ 51. Ke2 Nc2 52. Kd2 Nb4 53.Ba1 Na6 54. Kc3 Nc5 55. e5 Ke7 56. Kc4 Nd7 57. Kb5 h5 58. Kc6 Nb8+ 59. Kb5 Nd760. h3 Nf8 61. Kc6 Nd7 62. g4 hxg4 63. hxg4 Nb8+ 64. Kb5 Nd7 65. g5 Nf8 66. Kc6Ng6 67. e6 Nf4 68. Bf6+ Ke8 69. g6 Nxg6 70. d6 Ne7+ 71. dxe7 1-0

Adams-Nielsen

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. h4 h6 11. Kb1 O-O-O 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rhg8 14.h5 c5 15. Be3 Qc6 16. f3 Rge8 17. Bd3 d5 18. Qf2 Qc7 19. g4 Kb8 20. Rhg1 Bd621. f4 f6 22. Qf3 Bf7 23. Bg6 Bxg6 24. hxg6 Qc6 25. Bc1 Bf8 26. f5 Re4 27. Qxe4 1-0

Dortmund Round 5

Kramnik-Adams

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 Nb6 15.Nbd2 Nfd7 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bb2 Re8 18. a4 bxa4 19. bxa4 Rb8 20. a5 Nc8 21. Nc4Na7 22. dxc5 Nxc5 23. Qd2 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Nc6 25. Rad1 Nxa5 26. Nxa5 Rxb2 27. Nc4Rb8 28. e5 d5 29. Qxd5 Qxd5 30. Rxd5 Rb4 31. Ne3 g6 32. Ra1 Ra8 33. Rdd1 Kf834. Ra2 Rab8 35. Nd5 Rb2 36. Rda1 Bh4 37. Ne3 Bg5 38. Nd5 Bd2 39. f4 Rxa2 40.Rxa2 Rd8 41. Nf6 Bxf4 42. Ra5 Ne6 43. Nxh7+ Kg7 44. Nf6 Rc8 45. Ba4 Rc5 46.Rxc5 Nxc5 47. Bc6 a5 48. Nd7 Ne6 49. Kg2 g5 50. Ba4 Nd4 51. Nc5 Bxe5 52. Nb3Nxb3 53. Bxb3 Kf6 54. Kf3 Bd4 55. Ke2 Ke7 56. f3 f6 57. Kd3 Be5 58. Ke4 1/2-1/2

Bacrot-Topalov

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 e6 8. Bd3 Na69. O-O Nc7 10. dxe6 Nxe6 11. Be3 Nd7 12. Be2 Ne5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Qxd8 Rxd815. Bg4 h5 16. Bxe6 Bxe6 17. Nd5 b6 18. a4 f5 19. f3 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Bf8 21. Rfc1 Kf7 22. Rc3 Rdc8 23. Rac1 Rc7 24. b4 Rac8 25. Rc4 Bd6 26. bxc5 Bxc5 27. Kf1 Bd628. Rxc7+ Rxc7 29. Rxc7+ Bxc7 30. a5 bxa5 31. Bxa7 Kf6 32. Ke2 Bd6 33. Be3 a434. Kd3 Ke7 35. Kc4 Kf6 36. Bd2 fxe4 37. fxe4 Bf8 38. Ba5 Kg5 39. g3 Kf6 40.Bc7 a3 41. Kb3 Bc5 42. Bd8+ Kf7 43. Bg5 Bf2 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Ke8 46. Bf6 Bd4 47. Kxa3 Kd7 48. Kb4 Kd6 49. Bg7 Be3 50. Kc4 Bc1 51. Bf8+ Kd7 52. Bc5 Kc7 53. Kd3 Kd7 54. Be3 Ba3 55. Bd2 Bc5 56. Kc4 Bf2 57. Bb4 Be3 58. Bc3 Kd6 59. Kb5 Bf2 60. Ka6 Bd4 61. Ba5 Kd7 62. Bb6 Bb2 63. Kb7 Bc3 64. Bc7 Bb2 65. Bb8 Bd4 66.Ka6 Kc8 67. Bd6 Kd7 68. Bf8 Bc3 69. Kb5 Bb2 70. Bc5 Bc1 71. Kc4 Bd2 72. Ba3 Be3 73. Bb4 Bc1 74. d6 Kc6 75. d7 Kxd7 76. Kd5 Bg5 77. Kxe5 Bh4 78. Kd5 Bg5 79. e5Bh4 80. Bc5 Bg5 81. Bf2 Ke7 82. e6 Ke8 83. Ke5 Ke7 84. Bc5+ Ke8 85. Ke4 Kd8 86.Bd6 Ke8 87. Bf4 Bf6 88. Be3 Ke7 89. Kd5 Ke8 90. Kd6 Kd8 91. Bd2 Ke8 92. Bf4 Kd8 93. Be5 Bg5 1/2-1/2

Nielsen-Leko

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. Ba5 Qa8 14. Nc3 Bc6 15.a3 Bd6 16. Bb4 Qb7 17. Rc2 a5 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Nxg2 b4 21. Na4Qe4 22. Rd1 Rb7 23. Ne3 bxa3 24. Qxa3 Ng4 25. Qd3 Qxd3 26. Rxd3 Nxe3 27. Rxe3Rb4 28. Ra3 Rxd4 29. Nc3 Ra8 30. Nb5 Rd5 31. Nc7 Rc8 32. Nxd5 Rxc2 33. Nc3 Rxb234. Rxa5 g6 35. Ra8+ Rb8 36. Ra7 Nf6 37. f3 d5 38. Kf2 g5 39. Na4 g4 40. Nc5gxf3 41. Kxf3 Rb1 42. Ra8+ Kg7 43. Ra7 Rb6 44. Nd3 Ne4 45. Ne5 Nd6 46. Kf2 Rb747. Ra2 Kf6 48. Nd3 Ne4+ 49. Kg2 Nc3 50. Rc2 d4 51. Kf3 Rb3 52. Nc5 Ra3 53. Kg2Ke7 54. Rd2 Kd6 55. Nb7+ Kd5 56. Nd8 f5 57. e3 e5 58. exd4 exd4 59. Rf2 d3 60.Rxf5+ Kc4 0-1

Naiditsch-VanWely

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. Qg4 g6 8. Qe2d6 9. O-O Nd7 10. Na3 Qc7 11. Kh1 h5 12. Nc4 Ngf6 13. a4 b6 14. a5 b5 15. Nb6Rb8 16. Be3 Ng4 17. Bd4 Bf6 18. Nxd7 Bxd7 19. f3 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Nf6 21. f4 h422. e5 Nh5 23. Qg4 dxe5 24. fxe5 Qxe5 25. Rae1 Nf6 26. Qxg6 Qxd4 27. Qxf6 Qxf628. Rxf6 Ke7 29. Ref1 Be8 30. Kg1 Rd8 31. b4 Rh5 32. R1f4 Rdd5 33. Kf2 Kd6 34.Be4 Rd2+ 35. Ke1 Rd4 36. c3 Rc4 37. Kd2 Ke5 38. Bf3 Rh7 39. g3 hxg3 40. hxg3Rc7 41. Be2 Bc6 42. Rf2 Be4 43. g4 Rh8 44. Rxf7 Rd8+ 45. Ke1 Rxc3 46. Rh2 Rb347. Rh5+ Kd4 48. Rf6 Rd6 49. g5 Rg3 50. Rh4 Ke3 51. Rg4 Rxg4 52. Bxg4 Rd5 53.Rxe6 Rxg5 54. Bh3 Rg1+ 55. Bf1 Rg6 56. Rxg6 Bxg6 57. Bh3 Kd3 58. Bc8 Kc3 59.Bxa6 Kxb4 60. Bxb5 Kxb5 1/2-1/2

Svidler-Sutovsky - Draw in 29 moves

Dortmund Round 4

Standings:
Naiditsch, Nielsen, Van Wely - 2.5
Adams, Kramnik, Leko, Svidler - 2
Sutowski, Topalov, Bacrot - 1.5

Sutovsky-Bacrot [C93]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 h615. Ba2 Nb8 16. d5 c6 17. c4 Nbd7 18. b4 Nb6 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Qb3 Ra7 21.Bb2 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 d5 25. Qb3 Nxe4 26. Nxe5 Qb627. Ng4 Rae7 28. Rf1 Nd2 29. Qxd5 Nxf1 30. Ne5 Qf6 31. Nd3 Re1 0-1

VanWely-Svidler [D88]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c58. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 b6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14.Rad1 Rc8 15. d5 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Rxc4 17. Bd4 Qd6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nd4 Qb4 20.Qe3 Rfc8 21. h4 Kg8 22. h5 Qc3 23. Rd3 Qb2 24. h6 Rc3 25. Nc6 Rxd3 26. Qxd3Kf8 27. a4 Bxc6 28. dxc6 Qf6 29. Rc1 Qd6 30. Qc3 e5 31. c7 Ke7 32. g3 a633. Kg2 b5 34. axb5 axb5 35. Qa5 g5 36. Qa7 Kd7 37. Qa1 Ke7 38. Qa7 Kd7 39.Qb7 Rxc7 40. Qxb5+ Ke7 41. Ra1 Qc5 42. Qb8 Qc6 43. Re1 g4 44. Qh8 Qf6 45.Qxh7 Qf3+ 46. Kg1 Rc2 47. Rf1 Rxf2 48. Rxf2 Qxg3+ 49. Kf1 Qd3+ 50. Re2 Qd1+51. Kf2 g3+ 52. Kxg3 1/2-1/2

Leko-Kramnik ended in a draw after 25 moves. (Big surprise!)

Topalov-Nielsen ended in a draw after 34 moves.

Adams-Naiditsch ended in a draw after 37 moves.

Dortmund Round 3

Results:
Kramnik-Topalov, 1-0
Nielsen-Sutovsky, 1/2-1/2
Naiditsch-Leko, 1-0
Adams-VanWely, 0-1
Bacrot-Svidler, 1/2-1/2

Standings:
Naiditsch, Nielsen, Van Wely - 2.0
Adams, Kramnik, Leko, Sutowski, Svidler - 1.5
Topalov - 1.0
Bacrot - 0.5

Kramnik-Topalov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8.Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14.Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1Ba6 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 Rd8 22. a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 Bd826. Rc6 Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 Ke8 29. Bb8 a5 30. Bc7 Bf3 31. Rc3 Bd5 32. f4 Kd7 33. Bxd8 Kxd8 34. Kf2 Kd7 35. Ke3 e5 36. fxe5 fxe5 37. Rc1 a438. Rf1 Ke6 39. Rf8 b5 40. Rg8 Kf6 41. Rb8 1-0

Nielsen-Sutovsky
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c58. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+14. Kxf1 Qd6 15. e5 Qd5 16. Bf2 Rd8 17. Qa4 b6 18. Nf4 Qf7 19. Nh3 Qe6 20.g5 Qf5 21. Kg1 Qd3 22. Rd1 Qxc3 23. dxc5 Rxd1+ 24. Qxd1 Bxe5 25. cxb6 axb626. Bxb6 Nc4 27. Bf2 Nb2 28. Qd5+ Kf8 29. Kh1 Bd6 30. Bd4 Qd3 31. Ng1 Nd132. Qf3+ Qxf3 33. Nxf3 Bb4 34. Kg1 Kf7 35. Kf1 Bc3 36. Ke2 Bxd4 37. Kxd1 Bb6 38. Ke2 Ke6 39. g4 Kd5 40. Kd3 Bc7 41. a4 Bf4 42. h4 Bg3 43. a5 e5 44.Nd2 Bxh4 45. Ne4 Kc6 46. Kc4 Be1 47. a6 Bh4 48. a7 Kb7 49. Kd5 Bxg5 50.Nxg5 h5 51. gxh5 gxh5 52. Kxe5 Kxa7 53. Nh3 Kb7 54. Kf5 Kc6 55. Kg5 Kd5 56.Kxh5 1/2-1/2

Naiditsch-Leko
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 O-O 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 d6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. exd6 exd6 13. Bf4 Bf5 14.Qa4 Rfd8 15. Qa3 a6 16. Bf1 Rac8 17. Nd2 Na7 18. Rac1 Nb5 19. Qb3 Na7 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rb1 Re7 24. h4 Nc6 25. Qd5 Rd7 26.Bxa6 Na5 27. Bf1 Bf8 28. g3 Rd8 29. c4 Nc6 30. h5 Bg7 31. Be3 Ra8 32. h6 Bf8 33. Qb5 Ne7 34. Bd3 Ra3 35. Rb3 Rxa2 36. Qxb7 Ra1+ 37. Kg2 Qa5 38. Qb4 Qh5 39. Rb1 Rxb1 40. Bxb1 d5 41. c5 Bxh6 42. Bxh6 Qxh6 43. Qb8+ Qf8 44. Qd6 Qe8 45. Ba2 Nc6 46. Bxd5 Nxd4 47. Bxf7+ Kxf7 48. Qxd4 Qc6+ 49. f3 Ke6 50.g4 Qa6 51. Qe4+ Kf6 52. c6 Qa2+ 53. Kg3 Qa7 54. g5+ Kf7 55. Qd5+ Ke7 56.Qe5+ Kf7 57. Qf6+ Kg8 58. Qe6+ Kf8 59. Qc8+ 1-0

Adams-VanWely
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.h3 Bd7 9. f4 a6 10. Be3 Be7 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bd4 b5 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Qb7 17. Rhg1 b4 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Qc7 21. Qf3 g6 22. Kb1 O-O 23. h4 Rfd8 24. h5 g5 25. fxg5 Bxg5 26. Bd3 Qc6 27. Qxc6 Rxc6 28. Rge1 Rcd6 29. Re5 Rd4 30. Rg1 R8d6 31. b3 Bf6 32. Ree1 Kg7 33. a4 a5 34. Ref1 Bg5 35. Rg2 Bf4 36. Rgf2 e5 37. Kb2 Kf6 38. Bf5 Kg5 39. c4 Be3 40. Rc2 Rd1 41. Rxd1 Rxd1 42. Re2 Kf4 43. Kc2 Rd6 44. Re1 Rd2+ 45. Kb1 Bd4 46. Kc1 Rf2 47. c5 Rf3 48. c6 Rc3+ 49. Kd2 Rxc6 50. Rf1+ Kg3 51. Be4 Rc3 52. Bd5 Kxg4 53. Bxf7 e4 54. Bc4 Be3+ 0-1

Bacrot-Svidler ended in a draw after 38 moves.

Dortmund Round 2

Leko and Adams drew in 21 moves. Games (and players) like that are absolutely killing our game! At least all the other games were well-fought. White again scored 4-1 for the round.

Standings:
Leko, Adams, Nielsen - 1.5
Naiditsch, Svidler, Topalov, Sutovski, VanWely - 1.0
Kramnik - 0.5
Bacrot - 0

Sutovsky-Kramnik
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O g6 6. d4 Bd7 7. Re1 Bg7 8.d5 Ne7 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 10. Be3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf8 12. exf5 gxf5 13. f4 Qd7 14. c4Neg6 15. Nc3 h6 16. Nf3 e4 17. Nd4 h5 18. Ncb5 Kf7 19. Ne6 Nxe6 20. dxe6+Kxe6 21. Qd5+ Ke7 22. c5 c6 23. cxd6+ Kf8 24. Qb3 cxb5 25. Rac1 Qf7 26.Qxb5 a6 27. Qb6 Kg8 28. Red1 Kh7 29. Rc7 Qf8 30. Bd4 Rg8 31. Qxb7 e3 32.Rf7 Rb8 33. Qd7 Rd8 34. Qxf5 Qxf7 35. Qxf7 Rxd6 36. Kf1 Nxf4 37. Qf5+ Rg638. Qxf4 Rf8 39. Qxf8 Bxf8 40. Bxe3 Re6 41. Kf2 Kg6 42. Rd5 Be7 43. Bc5 Bf644. b3 Be5 45. g3 h4 46. gxh4 Bxh2 47. h5+ Kh7 48. Kf3 Be5 49. Rd7+ Kh6 50.Kg4 Bg7 51. Rd6 1-0

VanWely-Bacrot
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 a5 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Nd2 Nf4 13. Bf1 Ra8 14. a4 f515. Ra3 fxe4 16. Ndxe4 b6 17. Nb5 Kh8 18. g3 Nh5 19. a5 bxa5 20. Bd2 Bf521. Rxa5 Qd7 22. Qa4 Rxa5 23. Qxa5 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 c6 25. dxc6 Nxc6 26. Qa1d5 27. cxd5 Qxd5 28. Qe1 Nf6 29. Ra4 e4 30. Nc3 Qd7 31. Bb5 Qh3 32. Qf1Qxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Ne5 34. h3 Rb8 35. Be2 Nf3 36. Bf4 Rd8 37. Nxe4 Nd4 38. Bc7Rc8 39. Rxd4 Rxc7 40. Rd8+ Ng8 41. Nd6 Bf6 42. Ra8 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Be7 44. Bc4h5 45. Rxg8+ Kh7 46. Rc8 Bxd6 47. Bg8+ 1-0

Topalov-Naiditsch
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. exf6 Qxg5 11. fxg7 Qxg7 12. Qd2 O-O 13. Bxc4 a614. O-O Rd8 15. Qf4 b5 16. Qc7 Qf8 17. Bd3 Rd7 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Rae1 Qg7 20.Be4 Kh8 21. Re3 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Rd5 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Qxe6 Rd7 25. Rg3 Qf826. Re1 Raa7 27. Qf6+ 1-0

Svidler-Nielsen
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be78. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. b4 a6 14. a4Bd6 15. Ba3 Kh8 16. Qb2 Re8 17. b5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Qf6 19. Bxd6 cxd6 20. a5Reb8 21. Ra4 Qd8 22. Rea1 Nxa5 23. Qa3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Rxa4 26.Qxa4 dxc4 27. Qxc4 Qc8 28. Qf7 Qxc3 29. Rf1 Qc8 30. Nh4 Qf8 31. Qxf5 Qxf532. Nxf5 b5 33. f3 Nc3 34. Nxd6 Ne2+ 35. Kf2 Nxd4 36. Ke3 Ne6 37. Rb1 b438. Ne4 g5 39. g3 Kg7 40. Kd3 Rd8+ 41. Ke3 Rb8 42. Kd3 Rd8+ 43. Ke3 Rb8 1/2-1/2

Dortmund Round 1

The Dortmund Super-Tournament started today. The participants are 2700 Club members #2 Topalov, #4 Leko, #6 Kramnik, #7 Svidler, #9 Bacrot and #13 Adams, together with #28 Sutovsky, #38 Nielsen, #48 Van Wely and Germany's fourth strongest player Naiditsch. The official website is here.

It proved to be an exciting first round. The first round produced four White wins out of five games. Hopefully, we will see more of this fighting chess. (Kramnik drew his game with Svidler in 25 moves.) The games are available in PGN format here.

• Leko - Van Wely 1-0
• Adams - Topalov 1-0
• Naiditsch - Sutovsky 1-0
• Nielsen - Bacrot 1-0

Naiditsch-Sutovski
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Nxe7 Nxe7 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qh5 d5 14. O-O-O d4 15. Nb1 Qa5 16. a3 b4 17. Qh6 Ng6 18. g3 Rb8 19. f4 b3 20. c4 dxc3 21. Nxc3 Rc8 22. f5 Ne7 23. Qxf6 Rxc3+ 24. Kb1 Rg8 25. bxc3 Qxa3 26. Qb6 Qa2+ 27. Kc1 Kf8 28. f6 1-0

Nielsen-Bacrot
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 a5 7. e3 Be7 8. Be2 Na6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Nb4 11. Rac1 b6 12. cxd5 Nfxd5 13. Bf4 Nxf4 14. exf4 Bd6 15. g3 Bb7 16. Bc4 c5 17. d5 Bxf4 18. Rcd1 b5 19. axb5 Bd6 20. Rd2 a4 21. Qd1 e5 22. Re1 a3 23. bxa3 Rxa3 24. Qc1 Qa8 25. Ng5 Rd8 26. Nce4 Ra5 27. Qb1 h6 28. Nxd6 hxg5 29. Nxf7 Kxf7 30. Qf5+ Kg8 31. d6+ Bd5 32. Bxd5+ Nxd5 33. Qe6+ Kh7 34. Rxd5 Rxb5 35. Rdxe5 Rf8 36. Rxg5 1-0

Leko-VanWely
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. O-O Qe7 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ne6 14. Bg3 Qg5 15. Qe1 Nd4 16. Qf2 O-O 17. Bd6 Bxh3 18. Bf4 Qxg2+ 19. Qxg2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nxc2 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Rd2 Nd4 23. e5 f5 24. exf6 Rxf6 25. Ng4 Re6 26. Bxh6 Bxh6 27. Nxh6+ Kg7 28. Nf7 Rf8 29. Ng5 Re5 30. Nce4 Rff5 31. Nf3 Nxf3 32. Rxf3 Rd5 33. Rdf2 b6 34. Kf1 Rxf3 35. Rxf3 c4 36. dxc4 Rd4 37. Nc3 Rxc4 38. Ke2 Rh4 39. Kd3 Rh2 40. Ne2 g5 41. Kd2 Kg6 42. Rd3 Rf2 43. Rd7 Rf7 44. Rxf7 Kxf7 45. Nd4 c5 46. Nb5 a6 47. Nc7 a5 48. a4 Kf6 49. Nd5+ Ke5 50. Nxb6 Kd4 51. b3 g4 52. Nc4 g3 53. Ke2 Kc3 54. Nxa5 Kb4 55. Nc6+ 1-0

Adams-Topalov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Re1 c6 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. c4 Be8 14. Qh3 h6 15. Bd2 Qf7 16. c5 Bc7 17. Rab1 Qd7 18. Qf3 Bg6 19. h4 Qf7 20. Bf4 Ba5 21. Rec1 Bh5 22. Qg3 b5 23. cxb6 Bxb6 24. c3 Kh7 25. Be5 Qg6 26. Qf4 Rae8 27. Re1 Kg8 28. f3 Qf7 29. Bd6 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Re8 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Be5 Bg6 33. Bxf5 Qf7 34. Bc8 Qxf4 35. Bxf4 Ba5 36. Bb8 a6 37. Bxa6 Bb1 38. a3 Bxc3 39. Ba7 Bc2 40. h5 Kf7 41. Kf2 Bb2 42. Bc5 Bc1 43. Ke1 Bf4 44. Be2 Bb3 45. g4 Ba4 46. Bd1 Bg3+ 47. Ke2 Bb5+ 48. Ke3 Bc7 49. a4 Bc4 50. Bb4 Bh2 51. Kf2 g6 52. hxg6+ Kxg6 53. Be2 Bg1+ 54. Kxg1 Bxe2 55. Kf2 1-0

History of Dortmund Winners 1975-2004

1975 - Heikki Westerinen
1976 - Oleg Romanishin
1977 - Jan Smejkal, Alexander Kochiev
1978 - Ulf Andersson
1979 - Tamaz Georgadze
1980 - Raymond Keene
1981 - Gennady Kuzmin
1982 - Vlastimil Hort
1983 - Mihai Suba
1984 - Yehuda Gruenfeld
1985 - Vlastimil Hort, Stefan Kindermann, Yuri Razuvaev
1986 - Zoltan Ribli
1987 - Yuri Balashov
1988 - Smbat Lputian
1989 - Efim Geller
1990 - Alexander Chernin
1991 - Alexander Chernin, Igor Stohl
1992 - Gary Kasparov, Vassily Ivanchuk
1993 - Anatoly Karpov
1994 - Jeroen Piket
1995 - Vladimir Kramnik
1996 - Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand
1997 - Vladimir Kramnik
1998 - Vladimir Kramnik, Michael Adams, Peter Svidler
1999 - Peter Leko
2000 - Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand
2001 - Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov
2002 - Peter Leko
2003 - Viktor Bologan
2004 - Viswanathan Anand

FIDE Top Ten (well, eleven)

1 Kasparov, Garry g RUS 2812
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788
2 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2788
4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2763
5 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2752
6 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2744
7 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738
8 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2735
9 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2729
10 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2724
10 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2724

Some things to note:
* Kramnik continues his slide, dropping one more slot to #6 as Ivanchuk slipped past him.
* Topalov joins Anand in the #2 slot.

Other noteworthy Top 100 items:
* Karpov is tied for #31 at 2672.
* Korchnoi at age 74 is tied for #99 at 2615.
* The top USA player is Kamsky tied for #18 at 2700.

Topalov Wins First M-Tel Masters

With a score of 6.5/10, one full point over Anand (link to article).

Two Games

ALD-RMD [D21], 2005.5.21

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bf4 Bg4 5.e3 Nf6 {5...e5 6.dxe5 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 O-O-O+ 8.Kc1 b5 9.a4 Na5 10.Nfd2 Bb4 11.axb5 Bxd2+12.Nxd2 Nb3+ 0-1, Zsifkovits Robert 2121 - Kosztolanczi Gyula 2202, Zalakaros 2001} 6.Bxc4 e6 7.O-O Bd6 8.Bxd6 cxd6 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Qa5 11.Qb3 b6 12.Nb5 d5 13.Rfe1 Ne4 14.Nh4 Bxe2 15.Rxe2 Rac8 16.Na3 Nb4 17.Nc2? {17.Nf3} Rc4? {17...Qa6! 18.Rae1 Nxa2} 18.Nxb4 Rxb4 19.Qd3 Rc8 20.a3 Rbc4 21.h3 Rc1+ 22.Rxc1 Rxc1+23.Kh2 g6 24.f3 Nd6 25.g4 Nc4 26.Ng2 b5 27.Rc2 Qc7+ 28.f4 Rxc2 29.Qxc2 Qd6 30.Qe2 a5 31.Ne1 f6 32.Nf3 a4 33.Kg3? {33.Nd2} g5? {33...b4! 34.axb4 Qxb4} 34.Qf2 {34.Ne1} b4 {34...gxf4+ 35.exf4 b4} 35.axb4 Qxb4?{35...gxf4+! 36.exf4 Qxb4} 36.fxg5 Qxb2 37.Qxb2 Nxb2 38.gxf6 Kf7 39.g5 a3 40.Nd2? {40.Ne1!} a2? {40...Nc4!} 41.Nb3 Nd1 42.Kf4 Nf2 43.h4 Nd3+ 44.Kf3 Nc145.Na1 Nd3 {Elapsed times 0:27-0:21} 46.e4 Kg6 47.exd5 exd5 48.Ke3 Ne1 49.Kf4 Nd3+ 50.Ke3 Nb4 {At this point I was too short of time to continue writing the moves. Even though Black has sufficient counterplay to draw despite White's extra pawn, I eventually won this endgame. My wife played a great game as usual, but the endgame remains her weakness.} 1-0

RMD-ALD [B51], 2005.5.12

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.Nc3 Bd7 5.d3 Nf6 6.O-O g6 7.Bc4 {An odd way to lose a tempo. - ALD; 7.Bg5} Bg7 8.Nd5 e69.Nxf6+ Bxf6 10.c3 Ne5 11.h3 b5 12.Bb3 O-O 13.c4 b4 14.Bf4 Nxf3+15.Qxf3 Bxb2 16.Bxd6 Bxa1 17.Rxa1! Qb6 {To prevent 18.Bxc5. - ALD}18.Be5 {The bishop is too valuable to part with by playing 18.Bxf8. - RMD; An interesting exchange sacrifice. With my dark-squared bishop gone, my wife's bishop on e5 remained a thorn on my side for the rest of the game. - ALD} f5 {18...f6} 19.exf5 exf5 {19...Bc6} 20.a3 a5? 21.axb4 Qxb4? {Here I had been about to play 21....axb4 when I realized that this would leave my rook en prise. However, this is just as bad. Better is 21....Qe6. - ALD} 22.Qd5+ Rf7 {22...Be6 23.Qxe6+ Rf7} 23.Qxa8+ Rf824.Qd5+ Rf7 25.Rb1! a4? {Better is 25...Qb6 not that my game could be saved in any event. - ALD} 26.Bc2 1-0

FIDE World Championship 2005-2007

A new announcement (30 April) explained that the Argentine event was the first in a series of events to replace the much maligned FIDE Elimination (Knockout) as a determinant of future World Champions. • 'The World Chess Championship cycle shall be organised in 2005/07 and will include the following events : National Championships, Zonals and Continental Championships, World Chess Cup (the 128 player knock out tournament), the Last Chance Super Tournament and the World Chess Championship matches.'

Regulations for the 2005-2007 World Chess Championship Cycle

Book Review: Chess Strategy for the Tournament Player

Like the previous two books in the Comprehensive Chess Course series, this book gives the impression of having been slapped together in a weekend.

The selection of ideas (good vs bad bishop, weak and strong squares, etc) is mundane. This book adds nothing in that area. Reshevsky's Art of Positional Play is much better.

The selection of games and positions to illustrate these ideas is also particularly uninspired. Pachman's Complete Chess Strategy does a much better job selecting material.

The lack of commentary and analysis borders on the obscene for a book that claims it will help one become a master. I've given games of speed chess more thorough analysis than this. Where the analysis seems particularly educational and/or thorough, you can be sure it is merely a recompilation of previously published analysis. As just a couple (of many) examples, the analysis of Botvinnik-Boleslavsky (p182) comes from Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games, and the analysis of Tarrasch-Lasker (p217) comes from Reti.

Worst of all, analysis from earlier sources is uncritically poached without the slightest attempt at verification. For example, the analysis of MilnerBarry-ZnoskoBorovsky is taken from Euwe's Judgment & Planning in Chess. In that book, Euwe ends with "if 24....fxe5, White plays 25.Qg6 Bf6 and the game is decided by the invasion of the rooks by means of 26. Rfc1 when nothing can be done about 27.Rc7." Alburt & Palatnik copy this sentence almost verbatim. What Euwe missed (and Alburt & Palatnik didn't even bother to look for) is that Black has 26....e4 27.Rc7 Qxd4+ as a perfectly good defense and White is down a bishop for nothing.

You will learn nothing from this book; save your money.

One parting thought: What are these "secret Russian training methods" of which they repeatedly speak? I found nothing particularly pedagogical about their approach and much to criticize.

The 2004 Chess Oscar

goes to Anand.

Chess Oscars 1967-2003

1967 - Larsen
1968 and 1969 - Spassky
1970, 1971 and 1972 - Fischer
1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 - Karpov
1978 - Korchnoi
1979, 1980 and 1981 - Karpov
1982 and 1983 - Kasparov
1984 - Karpov
1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 - Kasparov
(From 1989 through 1994 the Oscar was not awarded)
1995 and 1996 - Kasparov
1997 and 1998 - Anand
1999 - Kasparov
2000 - Kramnik
2001 and 2002 - Kasparov
2003 - Anand

Two Old Games

ALD-RMD [D55]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.e3 = Nc6 {My wife often plays this in this kind of position. I personally don't like it because it closes off the possibility of playing ...c5.} 7.Bd3 h6 8.Bxf6 {Better is 8.Bh4 since this bishop should not be traded off in the QGD.} Bxf6 9.cxd5 {Like my eighth move, this is a move which could have been ruled out on general principles without calculation. In the QGD White does not play cxd5; better is 9.O-O.} exd5 = 10.Qc2 {10.O-O -0.15 CAP} Nb4 11.Qd2 {11.Bh7+!? Kh8 12.Qb3 Nxa2 13.Qxa2 Kxh7 14.Nxd5 Bg4 -0.10d14 Tiger 2004} Bg4 12.Be2 Bf5 13.O-O Qd6 {13...Qd7} 14.Nb5 Qe7 15.Nxc7 Rac8 {15...Qxc7 16.Qxb4} 16.Nb5? {16.Rfc1 hangs on to the extra pawn.} Rc2 17.Qd1 Rxb2 {17...Rxe2 18.Qxe2 Bd3 19.Qd2 Bxb5} 18.a3 Nc6 {Too passive; 18...Nc2!?} 19.Bd3? {It wasn't immediately obvious to me, but this loses a piece. My wife saw it almost instantly; 19.Nc3} Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Qe4 21.Qxe4 dxe4 22.Ne5 {22.Rfb1 Rxb1+23.Rxb1 exf3 24.gxf3} Rxb5 23.Nxc6 {Why trade another piece when I'm already down? This made no sense; 23.a4} bxc6 24.Rfc1 Rb6 {24...c5!} 25.a4 a5 26.Rc5 Ra627.Rac1 Rc8 {27...Rb8! defends the pawn indirectly.} 28.g3 Be7 29.Re5 Ba3 30.Rc3 Bb4 31.Rc4 Kf8 32.Rxe4 Ra7 33.Kg2 Re7 34.Rxe7 Kxe7 35.d5 {Premature; 35.Kf3} Kd6 36.dxc6 Rxc6 37.Rf4 f6 38.Rg4 g5 39.Rd4+ Kc5 40.h3 Rd6 0-1 {Maybe I resigned just a bit too soon, but Black's win is a matter of simple technique. 41.Re4 Rd2 42.Re7 Ra2 43.Rf7 Bc3 44.h4 Kb4 45.h5 Kxa4 -4.22/d14 Tiger 2004}

RMD-ALD [C68]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc4 Nf6 = 5.Nc3 {5.O-O} Bc5 6.d3 O-O 7.O-O d6 8.h3 {8.Bg5; 8.Nd5=} b5 9.Bb3 {-0.52 CAP} Bb7 {9...Na5 is probably best here; 9...h6 is the most commonly played move.} 10.Ng5 Qd7 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 h6 13.Nxf7?! {My wife loves to make this exchange whenever she has the opportunity, but seldom manages to achieve an advantage with it.} Rxf7 14.Bxf7+ Qxf7 15.Qg4 {15.Be3} Rf8! {Correctly calculating that there is nothing to fear from 16.Bxh6.} 16.Bxh6 Kh7? {A complete waste of time. Better to continue my own plans with 16....Bc8.} 17.Bg5 {17.Be3 is still best.} Qg6 {17...Bxf2+} 18.Kh2 Rxf2? {This exposes Black to an extremely deep winning combination by White, which fortunately for me my wife did not find. That is hardly surprising since even in analysis, it took me a very long time to work through all the complications.} 19.Qh4+ {19.Rxf2! Bxf2 20.Rf1! Qf7 (if the bishop retreats, then 21.Rf8 wins instantly for White) 21.Kh1! (to get the White King out of reach of the dark-squared bishop) Nd4 after which Black has no saving move, for example 22.Bh4 Qe6 23.Qh5+ Qh6 24.Qxh6+ gxh6 25.Bxf2 +-} Kg8 20.Rxf2 Bxf2 21.Qxf2 Qxg5 22.Rf1 Qe7 23.h4 Nd4 24.h5 Ne6 25.Qa7 {An odd move, taking the White queen away from the main action.} Qh4+ 26.Kg1 Nf4? {26...Bc8 27.Qa8 Qd8} 27.Qxb7??? {27.Rxf4! exf4 28.Qxb7 =} Ne2#

Two Games

RMD-ALD, 2/12/2005 [B20]

1.e4 c5 2.e5 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bb5 Qc7 5.Qe2 {5.Bxc6 Qxc6 6.O-O ...1/2-1/2, Koc Przemyslaw 2330 - Bus Mariusz 2370, Wisla 1998} d6 {5...Nge7 ...1-0, Kuindzhi Alexander - Keogh Eamon, Hague 1961} 6.d4!? cxd4 7.Nxd4 dxe5 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Ba4 {9.Qf3!?} Qa5+ {9...Bc5} 10.Nc3 Nf6?? 11.Bxc6+ Ke7 {I might as well just have resigned at this point.} 12.Bxa8 g6 13.O-O? {13.Bd2 Qb6 14.O-O-O} Ba6 14.Qf3 Bxf1 15.Bg5 {A very good in-between move, so White can recapture Rxf1 instead of Kxf1. However, 15.Qb7+ was even stronger.} Bg7 16.Rxf1 {16.Qb7+} h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3 Rd8 19.h4 e4 20.Bxe4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Qh7 {23.Be5!} Rh8 24.Qd3Qc6?? {Of course, trading queens loses. However, not trading queens loses even faster.} 25.Qa3+! 1-0 {25...Kf6 26.Qb2+ Ke7 27.Qxh8 Qd5 28.Qxh6 g4}

ALD-RMD, 4/24/2005, [D06]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 {My wife's standard response to the Queen's Gambit, but not altogether satisfactory.} 3.Nc3 Bf5 {3...dxc4} 4.Bg5 Ne4 {4...e6} 5.Nxe4 Bxe4 6.f3 {As I played this, I had second thoughts about whether this was best. However, post-mortem analysis seems to indicate that this was ok after all.} Bg6 7.e3 {7.Qb3 ...1-0, Suabedissen R - Fischer Jakob, Wewelsburg 1996} Nc6 8.Bd3 {8.Qb3} Qd6 {8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 f6 =} 9.Qb3 {I couldn't see this at the time, but this move unleashes a quasi-forced sequence that leads to the loss of pawn; 9.c5!} Qb4+ 10.Qxb4 Nxb4 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.Kd2 {My wife criticized this move, but analysis bears it out. This is the strongest way to prevent ...Nc7. However, now White goes down a pawn with no compensation.} dxc4 13.Nh3 {Right after I played this I spotted the stronger 13.e4.} f6 14.Bf4 {14.a3 Nd3 15.Bf4 c5} Nd5 {14...O-O-O} 15.Rac1 b5 16.e4 Nb4!? {16...Rxh3! 17.exd5 (17.gxh3? Nxf4) Rh5 18.Bxc7 Rxd5 but not 16...Nxf4? 17.Nxf4} 17.a3? {17.Bxc7 is the only reasonable move here.} Nd3 18.Rc2? e5? {18...Rxh3 19.gxh3 Nxf4} 19.dxe5? {19.Be3 O-O-O 20.d5} fxe5? {19...Rxh3 20.gxh3 Nxf4 21.exf6 gxf6} 20.Bg3 O-O-O 21.Ke2 Bc5 {21...Be7} 22.Rd1 {22.Ng5} Bd4 23.Rb1 Rh5 {A very odd position for the rook; 23...a6} 24.f4 {24.b3 g5 =} a6 {24...exf4! 25.Nxf4 Nxf4+ 26.Bxf4 Rf8} 25.fxe5 Nxe5 {25...Bxe5! 26.Bxe5 Rxe5} 26.Nf4 Rh6 {An even odder move than 23....Rh5 since the pawn is already defended by the knight; 26...Rhh8} 27.Ne6 Ng4 {Black has dissipated her advantage. Now despite the extra pawn, this position is equal or even microscopically in White's favor; 27...Rd6} 28.Nxd8 Kxd8 29.Rd2 c5 30.h3 {I worried about this move after making it, but analysis confirmed my over-the-board instinct.} Ne3? {30...Nf6} 31.Kf3? {31.Bf4 Nxg2 32.Bxh6 gxh6} Ke7? 32.Bf4 c3 33.bxc3 Bxc3 34.Bxe3 {34.Rd3 is even stronger.} Bxd2 35.Bxd2 {The rest of the game is just a matter of technique.} Rh8 36.Bg5+ Ke6 37.Kf4 {37.Rd1} Rf8+ 38.Ke3 Rc8 39.Rd1 a5 40.Bf4 Rc6 41.Kd3 b4 42.axb4 cxb4! {42...axb4? 43.Kc4! letting the king in next to the pawns, so in this case the general principle of recapturing towards the center has to be violated. - RMD} 43.Rc1 Kd7? {43...Ra6! not just avoiding the exchange of rooks but placing the rook on a strong square behind the passed pawn.} 44.Rxc6 Kxc6 45.Kc4 Kd7 46.Be5 Ke6 47.Bxg7 Kd7 48.h4 Ke6 49.g4 Kf7 50.Bd4 Ke6 51.h5 Kf7 52.hxg6+? {Prolongs the game unnecessarily; 52.h6!} Kxg6 {With my next move I embarked on a totally wrong strategic plan, leaving my king to deal with Black's two passed pawns while the bishop tried to help my own pawns advance. This is completely backwards. I should have played 53.e5 and prepared to move my king forward to help the pawn queen while my bishop dealt with the Black pawns.} 53.Be3 Kf6 54.Bf4 Ke6 55.g5 Kf7 56.Bc7 Kg6 57.Bd8 {57.Bxa5 was a quicker win.} Kh5 58.e5 Kg6 59.Kb3 {59.e6! and the pawn cannot be stopped.} Kf5 60.Bf6 Ke6 61.Ka4 {I don't understand why I was playing such a slow game. This game could probably have been won in 15 moves fewer than it took me; 61.g6} Kf7 62.Kxa5 b3 63.Kb4 b2 64.e6+ Kxe6 65.Bxb2 {Black should have resigned here.} Kf7 66.Bf6 Kg6 67.Kc5 Kf5 68.Kd6 Kg6 69.Ke7 Kf5 {White: 0:37, Black: 0:41} 70.Kf7 1-0

January Tournament Games Analysis

My original off-the-cuff analysis written the day after the tournament can be found here. The following is slightly more thorough (but not necessarily more accurate) analysis, performed with the help of Tiger 2004.

Round 1: Ananya Roy (1018) - ALD (1499), Giuoco Piano [C50]

1.e4 e5 {I pondered whether to play my usual 1. ... c5, but decided that a kid learning the game now would probably be much more up on all the latest Sicilian theory than I could hope to be, so I decided on 1. ... e5 instead. Of course, this could have backfired if my opponent had taken me down obscure Ruy Lopez variations.} 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {Boy, did I luck out. My wife and I play the Giuoco often. I felt like cheering when I saw this.} Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Bg5 {5.c3, 5.Nc3 and 5.O-O are all more common, but the text move is OK too. However, it turned out to be more successful for White than she had any right to expect simply because I failed to notice that anything unusual had happenedand that the line we were in was very different from what you usually see inthe Giuoco. Two thoughts: (1) I know I am out of practice and that's why I hadproblems navigating through this opening correctly, but (2) back in my day a1000 rated player could not have successfully done so either. The times, they are a-changing.} O-O {This is incorrect and is the cause of Black's future problems. The correct plan is 5.... d6 followed by 6.... Be6 and later ...Qe7, preserving the option to castle queenside depending on how things develop. Also 5. ... h6 is very playable.} 6.Nc3 {Not just the natural move, but clearly the strongest move in this position, with the strong threat of 7. Nd5.} Bb4 {The best might be 6. ... Be7 relieving the pin. I didn't want to pull the bishop back, but moving it again this way is no good either, especially since White is obviously just going to castle so that the problem of Nd5 is still not solved. Either 6. ... d6 or 6. ... h6 is also still good.} 7.O-O Bxc3 {The bishop has had to move three times to prevent Nd5. A wonderful illustration of Nimzowitsch's chess principle that the threat is stronger than the execution. White never got to play Nd5, yet Black's position is already somewhat inferior.} 8.bxc3 d6 9.d4 {Not the strongest move here, it allows Black to equalize.} Bg4 {9...h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.d5 Ne7 12.Rb1 a6 13.a4 b6 -0.08/d16 Tiger 2004} 10.Bb5 {10.d5} Bxf3 {Not best; not only does it bring the queen to bear on f6, but it leaves Blackwith two bad knights against White's two good bishops. 10....h6 is still the move.} 11.Qxf3 exd4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Bxf6 gxf6!? {13. ... Qxf6 is objectively better and I even thought so at the time, but I thought that keeping the queens on the board gave me better practical chances. Elapsed times at this point were White 0:12 and Black 0:15.} 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.cxd4 Rg8 16.Qf5 Rg5 17.Qf3 Qe7 18.h4 Rg619.h5 Rg5 20.Rfe1 c5 21.e5 Rag8 22.exf6 Rxg2+ 23.Kh1 Qd8 {By this point something interesting psychologically had happened. I had been under pressure for so long that I failed to realize that I had managed to equalize and was maybe even microscopically better now. Elapsed times at this point were White 0:23 and Black 0:32.}24.Re7?? R8g5?? {24...R2g4!! with the threat of 25....Rh4+, which can only be stopped by 25.Qxg4 Rxg4, and Black wins instantly.} 25.Rae1 Qg8 26.Re8 Rg1+ 27.Kh2 R5g2+ {Elapsed times at this point were White 0:30 and Black 0:40.} 28.Kh3 Black Resigns??? {Of course all I had to do is play 28....Rxe1 29.Rxg8+ Rxg8! (all I had seen was 29....Kxg8?? 30.Qa8+ Re8 31.Qxe8#) with approximate equality. Because of the disheveled pawn structure the queen might be slightly stronger than the two rooks, but there is still everything for me to play for. If only I had played one more move before resigning, I would surely have seen 29....Rxg8. Ouch!}

Round 2: ALD (1499) - Christopher Roberts (893), QGD Semi-Slav Defense [D43]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 {5.Bg5} Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 {6...Be7} 7.a3 {7.Nd2} c5 {This move is inaccurate.} 8.Bd3 {But this fails to take advantage of it. 8.dxc5! Qxc5? (8...dxc4!) ...1-0, Jackova Jana 2331 - Decka Eliska 2069, Chrudim 1993} cxd4 9.exd4 Nb6? {9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 Ne4} 10.b4 Qa6? {White: 0:06, Black: 0:07. 10...Bxb4 11.axb4 Qxb4 is actually the lesser evil here.} 11.c5? {I thought this won the queen; I overlooked Black's strong (but in hindsight obvious) reply. The rust continues to show. 11.Nb5!! with the threat Nc7 wins immediately.} Nc4 12.Qb3 {12.O-O} b5 13.cxb6 {Continuing to dissipate my advantage. This was a very strong pawn, which in addition to being passed is cramping Black's queenside. Correct was still 13.O-O.} axb6 14.O-O Be7 15.Rfd1 b5 16.Ne5 O-O 17.Be2 Bb7 18.a4 bxa4 {White: 0:22, Black: 0:21} 19.Rxa4 Qb6 20.Rxa8 {20.Nxc4 dxc4 21.Bxc4 doesn't work because after 21....Rfd8 White can't hold on to the extra pawn.} Rxa8 21.Nxc4 dxc4 22.Bxc4 Qc6? {Now Black is down a pawn for nothing. 22...Qxb4.} 23.d5exd5 24.Bxd5 Nxd5 25.Nxd5 Bf8 {White: 0:31, Black: 0:26. 25...Bxb4 26.Be5 (26.Nxb4?? Qxg2#; 26.Qxb4?? Qxd5!) Bf8 27.Qg3 Qg6 =} 26.h3 Rd8 27.Ne3 Bxb4?? {First the in-between move 27...Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 and only then 28....Bxb4.} 28.Rxd8+ Bf8 29.Qd5 {29.Qa3 is a much faster win.} Qb6 30.Qd4 Qe6? {This allows a textbook finish, but due to the material deficit Black is lost in any event.} 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qd8+ Qe8 {White: 0:37, Black: 0:35} 33.Bd6+ 1-0 {33...Kg8 34.Qxe8#}

Round 3: Harrison Ling (1116) - ALD (1499), Sicilian [B45]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bd3?? Be7?? 7.O-O?? O-O?? 8.Re1?? d6?? 9.Be3 {Finally! The knight on e4 has been hanging for 3 moves. That's what happens when you play the opening by rote (both of us).} Bd7 10.Qf3 Rc8 11.Nxc6 Rxc6 {11...Bxc6} 12.Bxa7? {This pawn is poisoned. 12.Nb5 Ra6 13.a4 (13.Nxa7 Ra5) Qb8} b6 13.Bb5 {13.Nb5 is still better.} Rc5 {13...Rxc3! 14.Qxc3 Bxb5} 14.Bxd7? {14.Bxb6! Qxb6 15.Bxd7 Nxd7 16.Na4 Qb7 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 =} Nxd7 15.Qe3 {This position is deceptively complex. Navigating the thicket with the help of Tiger 2004, I found the following: 15.a4 Ne5 [15...Ra5 16.Nb5 Qa8 17.Qe3 Rxa7 18.Nxa7 Qxa7; 15...Qc7 16.Nb5 Qb7 17.Qe2 Ra8 18.b4 Rxb5 (18...Rcc8 19.a5 Rxa7 20.Nxa7 Qxa7) 19.axb5 Rxa7 (19...Bf6 20.Ra6 Bc3 21.Rb1 Rxa7); 15....Qa8 16.Nb5 transposes to the previous line] 16.Qe2 Ra5 17.Nb5 Nc6 18.c3 Bf6 (18...Nxa7? 19.b4 Ra6 20.Nxd6!) 19.b4 Rxa7 20.Nxa7 Nxa7 21.Ra3 Qc7 so that in all lines I ended up with B+N for R+P. A downright fascinating position!} Qa8 16.Na4 {16.b4} Ra5 {White: 0:05, Black: 0:10} 17.Nxb6 Qxa7 18.Nc4 Rxa2?? {18...Qxe3 19.Rxe3 Rc5} 19.Rxa2?? {19.Qxa7 Rxa7 20.Rxa7} Qxa2 20.Qc3 Rc8 21.b3 Qa6 22.Ra1 Qb7 23.f3? {23.Qe3} Bf6! {It's all over; or 23...d5! 24.exd5 exd5 25.Qe1 Bc5+ 26.Ne3 Re8} 24.Qe1 Bxa1 25.Qxa1 Ra8 26.Qb2 Qa7+ 27.Kf1 Qa1+ 28.Qxa1 Rxa1+29.Ke2 Ra2 30.Kd3 Nc5+ 31.Kc3 Nb7 32.Kb4 {32.b4} Kf8 {Not best (32...Rxc2!), but this is irrelevant. (White: 0:14, Black: 0:21)} 0-1

Round 4: ALD (1499) - Will Lugar (1115), QGD Slav Defense [D15]

{Going into round 4, I had 2 points and no other player in the Under-1500 category had more than that. So if I could win the last game, I would be assured of at least a portion of the prize.} 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qc2 h6 10.Bh4 Re8 11.Rac1 b5 {11...dxc4} 12.c5 Qc7 {White: 0:06, Black: 0:07} 13.Bg3 {This wasted a tempo. Where is the queen threatening to go? a5! So why just push it along in that direction? Better to just lock up the queenside with 13. b4.} Qa5 14.a3 Qd8 15.b4 a5 16.Ra1 a4 {White: 0:13, Black: 0:15} 17.Rfe1 Bb7 18.e4!? {18.h3} dxe4 {18...Nxe4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Nf6} 19.Nxe4 Nd5 {19...Nxe4 20.Rxe4 Nf6 21.Re2 Qc8} 20.Bd6 Bf6 {20...N7f6 21.Bxe7 Rxe7} 21.Nc3 Nxc3 22.Qxc3 Be7 23.Bf4 Nf6 {White has had a small but definite advantage all game. At this point, I pretty much thought I had the game strategically won. I was now headed to the hole at d6 with my knight, but the move I selected was absolutely horrible tactically.} 24.Nd2?? Nd5! 25.Bh7+ {This bishop is less valuable than the other one.} Kxh7 26.Qd3+ Kg8 {White: 0:26, Black: 0:26} 27.Be3? {Duh! I played 25.Bh7+ in order to preserve this bishop. Why allow it to be traded now? Better is 27.Be5! not that the game can be saved in any event.} Nxe3 28.fxe3 Bf6 {28...e5!} 29.Ne4 e5 {29...Be5} 30.Nd6 {30.d5!} Re7 31.Re2? {31.Rf1} exd4 32.exd4? {The end; 32.Rf1 dxe3 33.Rxe3 Rxe3 34.Qxe3 held out longer.} Rxe2 33.Qxe2 Bxd4+ {White: 0:35, Black: 0:35.} 1-0 {And that was that. No prize for me.}

What are they smoking at FIDE?

I'd like some...

FIDE is pleased to announce that the World Chess Championship Tournament 2005 will take place 27 September - 16 October in the city of San Luis, Argentina, under the aegis of the Province of San Luis. The ongoing bidding procedure concerning the World Championship 2005 has been resolved in favour of the Luis candidacy, whose negotiation team in Athens offered on 15 April a prize fund of USD 1,000,000 for the event. The offer is backed by a financial guarantee and an agreement concerning further organizing details has been signed by Governor of San Luis, Alberto Rodriguez Saa, and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

FIDE is positive that the games will be held successfully in San Luis and this year's World Chess Championship will further establish the image of chess as a competitive and educational sport not only in Argentina but in whole geographical region of South America. Towards this aim, the attractive image and the positive reputation the province of San Luis are considered as valuable assistance to FIDE’s efforts.

The format of the tournament will be an 8-player double round robin. The total prize fund of USD 1,000,000 be distributed to the players according to the final standings, as described in the official regulations, with the World Champion receiving the valuable title and the amount of USD 300,000. The final list of the 8 world-class Grandmasters who shall contend this year for the ultimate title of World Champion will soon be announced, in accordance with the official regulations of the World Chess Championship Tournament 2005.

(I tried to link directly to FIDE's website, but their server is down now.)

The eight players have been announced: Knock-out world champion Kasimdzhanov and runner-up Adams, Classical world champion Kramnik and challenger Leko, and four top players according to Elo rating - Kasparov, Anand, Topalov and Morozevich.

Some thoughts:
(1) "valuable title"? Ha ha!
(2) FIDE continues to create events without consulting players, as well as hallucinating bank guarantees on desks.
(3) Hasn't FIDE heard? Kasparov retired! (Would Svidler be offered his place?)
(4) Just a double round-robin to determine the world champion?
(5) Why would Kramnik agree to this psychotic plan?
(6) What happens after this event? There's no plan for a new cycle? Will the circus continue? Who cares if the title is "unified" if there's no system in place for finding the next challenger.
(7) Of course, Mig points out on his website that the the tournament regulations state that "The four top players will automatically qualify for the knock-out matches of the next cycle." If the knock-out format is still FIDE's idea of a world championship, then what's being billed as a unification event is nothing more than just a cheap attempt to absorb Kramnik's classical title in order to destroy it.